Teachers, parents, and students convened in a series of SCC-facilitated discussions at Svay Dungkum Primary School in late December, with the purpose of identifying the problems that contribute to students' irregular attendance and high failure rates.

Teachers lamented the fact that students don't get sufficient support and encouragement from home. Many students' parents are uneducated and as a result, put little value on education. Teachers also expressed concern about students' general health, hygiene and undernourishment. They claimed that illness – from colds to malaria -- is one of the most common causes of student absence. But, teachers also acknowledged that they are not properly trained to provide a quality education, and their low government wages are hardly sufficient motivation for them to perform their jobs.

Parents agreed that teachers' low wages are a problem and are eager to develop a community-based solution to keep teachers motivated. Parents also noted that teachers don't pay special attention to underachievers, and with large class sizes, it is easy for low-performing students to fall behind. And, given that it took two rounds of invitations to get parents to attend the SCC-facilitated meetings, teachers' claims that parents put little value on education seem justified!

Equally important were the students' views. To initiate discussion, students drew pictures of what they like about school. Some drew their teachers, others their classrooms, and some their library. In the conversations that followed , students confirmed that most of their parents are illiterate and never take an interest in their school work. They also indicated that students miss class to look after their families' cows or help out with household chores. Students discussed ways to overcome these problems themselves – finishing chores outside of school hours and seeking help with their homework from siblings, friends, or neighbors.

The results of this needs assessment, or Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), will be the basis for Svay Dungkum Primary School's annual development plan, which will be created in an SCC-facilitated workshop in early 2009.

Students at Svay Dungkum proudly display their pictures of what they like about school: