During the mid to late 1970's, the period of the Khmer Rouge, and even during the following years of civil war, most Cambodians didn't have the opportunity for a formal education.  The result is an entire generation who is uneducated and who puts little value on education for their children.

The School Support Committee at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School is trying to change that, at least in the village of Kok Russey Kang Cherng, their community of 125 families, which is serviced by the school.

On Thursday, 22 January, fifty-five community members (including five people from the neighboring village of Boh) gathered to attend a meeting hosted by the School Support Committee.  Held at the school, the meeting's purpose was to promote the importance of education and to announce the School Support Committee's annual school development plan activities (created with the support of SCC). 

There was a festive atmosphere as the community gathered for the meeting.  Traditional music blared through a loud speaker and the children clapped and sang. The Village Chief, Assistant Village Chief, School Director, other School Support Committee members, and Jay, SCC's Programme Officer, spoke at the meeting.  While the importance of sending children to school was the main theme echoed through the speeches, community involvement and participation in the school and the education of their children was also emphasised.

The success of the day can be attributed to the enthusiasm of the School Support Committee who had a friendly competition to see who could recruit the greatest number of people from his or her part of the community to attend the meeting. 

The School Support Committe will follow-up this meeting with a second gathering in February, targeting those families  who were not in attendance on 22 January.  Furthermore, the committee will promote education awareness through monthly home visits to parents of students who attend school irregularly, have poor performance, or are at-risk of dropping out.  In doing so, the School Support Committee is tackling one of their communities' top barriers to education.