SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This program relies on close cooperation between Tabitha Cambodia, the local communities, the national government (via the Ministry of Education). It is based on the fact that while there is an acute shortage of schools, particularly in rural areas, an excess of teachers are being trained in Phnom Penh.

Understanding this situation, Tabitha Cambodia builds and equips schools, and then passes ownership and the responsibility for the running of these schools – including the supply of teachers – to the government through the Ministry of Education.

Over the three-year life of this program, 20 schools have been built providing education for about 15,000 Cambodian children. In the 2010-2011, 13 schools were completed. There are currently 20 communities that Tabitha has identified as needing schools and construction can begin when funding for the schools has been secured.

The acute shortage of schools As communities reach a certain level of development, education of the children becomes a priority. However, in many areas, there are no local schools nor plans for schools to be built. Any existing schools usually have no spare places for extra children. At this point, communities often ask Tabitha Cambodia for help to build a school for their children.

Main steps in the program:

1. Tabitha Cambodia liaises with the Village, Commune and District chiefs and a representative of the Ministry of Education.
2. A wealthy villager often donates land for a school (or if there is a run-down school, this land is used).
3. The land is transferred to the national government and ear-marked for a school.
4. Tabitha Cambodia seeks funding for the planned school.
5. Once funding is received, Tabitha Cambodia arranges to local contractors to build the school (with support from local villagers)
6. When complete, the school is gifted to the national government to run and maintain.

What does Tabitha provide? School building Desks for students Desks for teachers Blackboards A well Toilets Metal flagpole What does the government provide? Teachers Curriculum Text books Maintenance What does the community provide? Land Labour to assist carrying materials to the building site and during construction Accommodation and other support for the teachers assigned to their school

With a safe house and clean water bringing school participation rates from as low as 15% to over 85%, helping our communities further their own development, required us to build more schools.

"We hope to build enough classrooms to hold 70 kids per day - 2 sessions. This is Cambodia - too many kids - not enough classrooms!" Janne