SCC News

Construction Complete at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School

Marketing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:05:00 GMT

The construction of four new classrooms and three new toilets at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School was completed last week and the keys will be handed to the community during an opening ceremony on the 21^st of November, a day chosen in consultation with Monks from the Mon Thyean pagoda. The opening ceremony will include speeches by the commune chief, the district governor and the school director as well as a blessing performed by the monks from the nearby pagoda.

SCC and the Kok Russey Kang Cherng Community planned the construction of the new classrooms after a comprehensive needs assessment in Kok Russey Kang Cherng Village and Wat Mon Thyean Primary School identified additional classrooms as one of the community’s top needs. Up until recently Wat Mon Thyean Primary School was unable to accommodate students through their final year of primary schooling., Because students had to travel long distances to study grades five and six, many dropped-out after grade 4.

The community was closely involved in the construction process from evaluating contractor bids and monitoring construction. They demanded changes when quality was not met and were proud of the result. The School Support Committee also participated in a two and a half month training course in construction and construction monitoring. The course included ways in which the community can be mobilised to ensure that the facilities are maintained into the future.

One of four completed classrooms

New Toilet Block

Wat Mon Thyean Construction – Week 17: Construction Delayed, but Community is Proud

Marketing — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:15:00 GMT

Marking the final part of construction of four new classrooms and three new toilets for Wat Mon Thyean Primary School, the purchase of 4 classroom doors, 3 toilet doors and twenty-eight new window shutters from a new contracting company was finalised on October 20th. A delay in the construction schedule occurred when it became clear that the quality of the shutters installed by the previous contracting company was not up to standard, particularly in relation to the materials used. Despite the community’s concern, the contractor was unprepared to replace the substandard doors and shutters. SCC advocated for the community and the contractor agreed to refund 70% of the cost and remove the substandard shutters. The community, including teachers and the members of the School Support Committee, were adamant that they would prefer the construction to take longer than to settle for poor quality. The new classrooms were due to be complete on October 13th but will take approximately five weeks longer than expected, as the new contractor completes the door and window woodwork. While the construction is completed, classes are being held in the old school building and the library. $2,691.50 has been refunded by the original contractor, covering the cost of the doors and shutters, ensuring that the project is still on budget. Until this school year, which began on October 1st, Wat Mon Primary School was incomplete only catering for students in grades 1 to 4. This year the school expanded, now welcoming students from kindergarten age to grade five. Once construction is complete, Wat Mon Thyean will be a full primary school allowing the existing year five students to move into grade six, the final year of primary school in Cambodia. Wat Mon Thyean has come a long way since its two wooden classrooms were constructed in 1997. As the number of grades offered by the school has increased, so to has the number of students. Last school year the school had approximately 135 students; this year 190 students, a 41% increase. It is hoped that the construction of the new facilities will help support the continued growth of the school and help provide a safe clean environment conducive to learning.

Phoum Stung Community Gathers for Opening Day of School

Andrea Messmer — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:29:00 GMT

On Wednesday, October 1, schools across Cambodia opened for the first day of the 2008-09 school year. In celebration, the Phoum Stung Primary School teachers, more than five hundred students and hundreds of community members convened on the school grounds for a ceremony.

The District Deputy Governor opened the event with comments on the importance of education. He urged parents to send their children to school regularly, and read a letter with a similar message from Hun Sen, Cambodia's Prime Minister. The Village Chief of Phoum Stung and the head monk from the local pagoda also spoke. As they talked, students and community members alike stirred and spoke amongst themselves, as is customary in Cambodia.

The final three speakers, however, captured the full attention of all attendees. As three fifth grade students from the Phoum Stung Kids' Club, an initiative of the teachers and SCC, took the podium, the crowd was silent. The three girls presented their findings from a school mapping research project that they completed in two villages serviced by Phoum Stung Primary School. They reported the number of students out of school as well as the top reasons that keep kids from getting an education.

Organized by the Phoum Stung School Director, the opening ceremony was a true community effort. The residents of Phoum Stung contributed microphones and a sound system, the monks of the local temple provided notebooks and pens for students, the teachers donated their time and safe drinking water, and SCC covered the cost of decorations. This was the first ceremony of its kind held at Phoum Stung School, and if it's any indication of what is to come, the year promises improved community participation and commitment to education.

School Administrators and Teachers Identify Training Needs

Andrea Messmer — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:22:00 GMT

On September 25 and 26, six administrators and 32 teachers from SCC-supported schools participated in needs assessments to identify their top training needs. The needs assessment discussions were held at the Siem Reap Teacher Training College (TTC) and facilitated by Mr. Leav Ora, the director of TTC.

Preliminary results indicated that school directors could benefit from training in general school administration, community engagement, and processes for securing government funding. For teachers, the compilation of lesson plans and teaching methodologies were among the top needs.

In October, SCC will work in partnership with TTC to establish an annual training plan for administrators and teachers who participated in the needs assessment. This in-service training is expected to contribute to improved teacher motivation as well as improved quality of education.

School administrators from Khnar, Svay Dungkum, Wat Mon Thyean, and Phoum Stung Primary Schools stand with Mr. Leav Ora and the SCC team outside the TTC Director's office:

Wat Mon Thyean Construction – Week 13: Roof Tiles Go On Before the Start of Pchum Ben

Andrea Messmer — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:05:00 GMT

The rains tapered off this week, allowing more progress on the classroom construction at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School. Roof tiles were laid and more than 90% of the wall plastering was completed. The progress comes just before Pchum Ben, one of Cambodia's biggest holidays in which ancestors return to pagodas to collect food and alms from their descendants. For Pchum Ben, the Cambodian people, including the construction workers at Wat Mon Thyean, return to their homelands to participate in celebrations at their local pagodas. Workers are expected to return to the site on October 1 for completion of the school building.

Construction progress at week 13:

Contracts Distributed to New Intake of Sponsored Students

Andrea Messmer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:18:00 GMT

SCC's new Student Sponsorship Program intake of 21 secondary school students braved the rain to attend a meeting with SCC staff at the Dan Run office on Wednesday. The group of sponsored students was finalized last week, after no appeals were made by community members in regards to the selection results.

At the meeting, students were briefed on the support that SCC would provide them, including bicycles and locks, uniforms, school bags, study supplies, and school fees. Students were also made clear of SCC's expectations for sponsorship, including 90% attendance at school, regular participation in SCC-coordinated events, and appropriate use of SCC-provided supplies. Contracts, which lay out these expectations, also define the roles of parents: not asking students to do work that will interfere with their studies, participating in SCC or school-coordinated activities about their children's education, and encouraging their children to study. Students and parents will return signed and thumb-printed contracts early next week, following a second review of the terms and conditions.

At the meeting, students were also measured for school uniforms, which, along with other supplies totaling $74/student, will be distributed next week.

The new intake of sponsored secondary school students:

Jay explains the students' responsibilities and SCC provisions, as laid out in the contract:

Andrea takes a student's measurements for his school uniforms:

WMT Construction – Week 12: Rains Slow Progress, as Students Grow Eager

Andrea Messmer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:06:00 GMT

With the wet season in full swing, consistent rain has slowed progress at the Wat Mon Thyean construction site. With 85% of the construction complete, Bunrith, SCC's construction engineer, expects that if things continue at this pace, the building will still be ready by October 13. However, cleaning and preparation of the area around the new classrooms may remain.

This week, PHV Construction continued work on the roof structure, installing batons and rafters and laying the first of the roof tiles. They also continued work on plastering of the walls, which are nearing completion.

As construction continues, students are growing eager to start school in the new building. As Puma, age 7, and Rathana, age 10, played outside the school library, I talked to them about the new classrooms: “Next year, I will start grade 4. I am so happy that I will get to study in the new school. And, I'm even happier that once I finish grade 4, I can study grade 5 at my school,” Rathana shared. Puma, who will repeat grade 1 next year, was all smiles, too, as he talked about the new classrooms.

The community is equally excited. Residents gathered at the school last Friday when three trucks delivered new school furniture. Although SCC was not there to capture the community members' reactions, we heard their overwhelming excitement over the phone. Once the school support committee confirmed that the furniture met specifications, SCC processed payment of $2,608 to the supplier on behalf of the community and SCC.

Eager students, Rathana and Puma:

Construction continues:

New kindergarten furniture is in storage in the old classrooms, in preparation for completion of the new building. Printed on the desks are “Donated by SCC and the Wat Mon Thyean community:”

Teacher chairs and meeting table chairs:

WMT Construction – Week 11: Roof Structure Starts

Andrea Messmer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:28:00 GMT

Classroom construction at Wat Mon Thyean continues to be on schedule, as the start of the 2008-09 school year nears. The upper beam concrete is in place and the first layer of plaster is being applied to the walls. Also in progress are the building's roof columns.

The School Support Committee continues to play a key role in ensuring that the contractor, PHV Construction, complies to technical specifications and constructs a high-quality building. Their approach is proactive; this week, they logged a warning with the contractor to ensure that rebar was installed before concrete was laid for the classroom steps. So far, PHV has complied.

The School Support Committee at Wat Mon Thyean will be wrapping up what's been a 2.5 month training course in contract management and construction monitoring. The final session, scheduled for this weekend, will teach members of the community how to perform maintenance activities, how to organize committees for school maintenance in the community, and how to effectively partner with NGOs to make improvements in their community.

Two members of the School Support Committee look on as work continues on toilets:

Classrooms take shape:

Appeals Process is Launched for New Intake of Sponsored Students

Andrea Messmer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:25:00 GMT

Following a month-long application and screening process of forty-two candidates, twenty-one new students have been selected for secondary school sponsorship through SCC. The students live in Son Thai, T'Nong, and Roun Kang T'Bong villages, all about 35 km from Siem Reap town. These villages are among the poorest communities with the highest drop-out rates within SCC's target area.

The new intake of students have been selected based on three criteria:

Student successfully completed grade six
Student comes from a poor or vulnerable family
Student is motivated to continue his/her education and his/her parents are supportive

The list of scholarship recipients was posted in the villages this week. Villagers have one week to appeal SCC decisions before the new intake is finalized.

The new intake will join the 26 sponsored students continuing their secondary education in the 2008-09 school year.

SCC Sponsored Student Stays Motivated to Repeat Grade 12

Andrea Messmer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:16:00 GMT

This week, the Phnom Penh Post reported that despite widespread cheating fewer Cambodian students passed their high school exams this year compared with 2007. The newspaper went on to mention that allegations of widespread bribery during exams lead many to question whether the results reflect students' real capacity.

SCC-sponsored student San studied grade 12 this year, but he, like 29.3% of Cambodia's 55,178 grade 12 students, did not pass his final exam. San reported that 10 of his 25 classmates also failed. San is a hard-working, motivated student. He also spends his time teaching English to bring in an income that helps support his family. San was disappointed with his test results which were posted last week, but is highly motivated to repeat grade 12 in hope of passing the exam next year. San says he wants to complete his secondary education to make his mother proud and be a good role model for his younger siblings. San dreams of going to university and ultimately becoming a tour guide near the Angkor temples.

SCC's policy is to support students through the repetition of one grade level, if needed, for every three years of study.

San:

School Mapping Activities are Initiated in More Communities

Andrea Messmer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Raksmey and Savada, university students who are on 2-month long internship with SCC, led students to initiate school mapping activities in five villages during the month of August. The activities, like those started in Phoum Stung village in July, are designed to build students' research skills and identify the key barriers to education in the communities where SCC is working.

On August 4 – 9, twenty-seven 5^th and 6^th grade students from Khnar Chas Primary School visited 167 houses in Khnar Chas and Bass Kralinh villages. Students interviewed residents about numbers of children in their household and the children's school enrollment. Although the village survey is not yet complete, the biggest barriers to education identified so far include lack of money for school supplies and the need for children to work to support basic family needs.

August and September's replanting season has kept many residents busy in the rice fields, making them difficult to interview. Surveying will continue in the coming months, when more residents are at home.

Getting to homes in Khnar Chas Village was not always easy. Here, students wade through flooded fields to reach homes:

Students reconvene at Khnar school after conducting home visits one afternoon:

Harpswell Foundation Interns Promote the Value of Education

Andrea Messmer — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:46:00 GMT

In July and August, Harpswell Foundation-sponsored university students Raksmey and Savada visited all SCC-supported schools to conduct education awareness activities with students and teachers. Raksmey and Savada, who have both overcome disadvantaged backgrounds to study in Phnom Penh-based universities, led activities and discussions to help students and teachers understand the value of education and overcome common obstacles that students face.

When talking about her sessions with students, Savada said “I showed them the benefits of being a good student: more friends, teachers like more, parents love, and they have more opportunities than the others. Moreover, the higher we study, the more money we can earn.” Savada also added “all jobs need education. If you want to be a teacher, you have to study. If you want to be a farmer, you need to study.” Savada and Raksmey's advice and personal stories were complemented with videos, karaoke songs and games that led the students to appreciate good, productive use of their time, including education.

In separate meetings, Raksmey and Savada advised teachers on ways to encourage students to study and remain in school. As an example, Savada said, we need to “make [students] understand that money is not a big obstacle to study. We can solve it if we want, like through working part-time.” Discussions with teachers helped identify specific issues that teachers face with student drop-outs, irregular attendance, and slow learners.

Students' are engrossed in a video that helps promote the value of education:

Students engage in an activity:

Raksmey and Savada enjoy lunch with Phoum Stung teachers following educational awareness activities:

WMT Construction – Week 8: The Walls Go Up

Andrea Messmer — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:20:00 GMT

The new classrooms and toilets at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School are nearly 45% complete, as more brick is laid by local laborers and PHV Construction Company. School Support Committee members, with Bunrith, SCC's construction engineer, were busy this week completing inspections of the company's work for authorization of the first payment of $18,300 to the contractor. Meanwhile, parents and other residents of the Wat Mon Thyean community pooled $75, the first installment of their $250 contribution to the new classrooms. The money will be paid to PHV next week.

This week, the School Support Committee and SCC also signed a contract with a furniture-making operation in Svay Leu for the production of 37 student desks and benches, 4 teachers' desks and chairs, and a meeting table and 12 chairs for $2,608. The furniture is to be delivered in October, once the new classrooms are complete.

Classrooms take shape:

Three toilets take shape:

SCC Announces Programme Changes

Georgina McLaren — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:33:00 GMT

Over the past year, SCC has evaluated its programmes, refined its mission, assessed Cambodia's most pressing education needs, and researched the work of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The result is an improved strategy designed to address current education needs and contribute to long-term, sustainable development.

SCC's improved strategy immediately impacts the charity's current School Adoption, Teacher Sponsorship, and Child Sponsorship Programmes. We hope you will find these programme modifications and improvements as exciting as we do.

From Primary School Adoption to Primary School Development

As SCC moves into its seventh year of operation, we are pleased to announce a NEW and exciting Primary School Development Programme to replace the current School Adoption Programme.

Since its foundation, SCC has adopted needy primary schools, provided them with essentials for education and been there to ensure that these are used well and that children go to school. Now, rather than continue this top-down adoption approach, we want the communities in which we work to be able to continue to develop and govern their schools long after we have left. We want to empower local people with the skills and confidence to tackle their own educational problems unassisted by charity.

We will talk and listen to communities and let them tell us what is important to them, what they can contribute, and what educational resources or activities they are willing to maintain, independently, without outside help. This requires an investment in people: in SCC staff to work with the schools and communities, and in the schools and communities themselves. We believe that this capacity-building approach will make a sustainable difference to the access and quality of education and is an exciting way for SCC to grow and take our work forward.

To learn more about the Primary School Development Programme please click on this link or access the document from the Downloads page.

Withdrawal of Teacher Sponsorship Programme

With implementation of the Primary School Development Programme, SCC will withdraw its Teacher Sponsorship Programme, namely supplementation of teacher and school administrator salaries. New strategies, such as teacher capacity-building and school resource provision, will provide alternative motivation to teachers and administrators while better catering to long-term sustainable development.

A Refined Student Sponsorship Programme

SCC is also pleased to announce a new Student Sponsorship Programme to replace the Child Sponsorship Programme. The new programme is designed to maximise impact and ensure the most vulnerable students from the most disadvantaged areas have the opportunity of a secondary education.

SCC is committed to continuing the sponsorship of students in the current programme for the duration of their secondary education.

New students to the SSP will be selected based on objective criteria which will include parental support, previous educational success and commitment. Sponsorship will initially cover lower secondary education but students will then have the opportunity to apply for a further three years of support for upper secondary school.

To learn more about the new Student Sponsorship Programme please click on this link or access the document from the Downloads page.