Schools for Children of Cambodia

Svay Dungkum (SDK) Primary School
Location: Svay Dungkum Village, Svay Dungkum Commune, Siem Reap District

Distance from downtown Siem Reap: 1.5 km

History: In 1980, the community of Svay Dungkum constructed a single-classroom school where grade one was taught. The following year, a second classroom was built to accommodate a growing number of first grade students. It wasn't until 1994, however, that grade two classes were added. Thereafter, one grade was added per year, until 1997, when the school offered grades 1-5; grade 6 was added in 1999. Red Banana Organization (now Save the Children Norway) and Cambodia's Ministry of Education contributed to the school's infrastructure, building 3 wooden classrooms in 1997 and a block of 3 concrete classrooms (still in use today) in 2000, respectively. SCC added a second block of concrete classrooms, including a library and computer lab, in 2006.

Supported by SCC since: 2004

Number of teachers and administrators: 15

Number of pupils: 446

Number of classrooms: 8

Other facilities: library, computer lab, SCC office

Electricity: yes

Khnar Primary School
Location: Khnar Chas Village, Chreov Commune, Siem Reap District

Distance from downtown Siem Reap: 5km

History: Khnar Primary School was originally constructed by the community in 1979. At that time, it consisted of two wooden classrooms with thatch roofs. School was only in session in the mornings, and only first and second grades were taught. Two years later, in 1981, the school building collapsed. It was rebuilt, this time with 3 classrooms. To accommodate a growing number of students and classes, though, another building that was off school grounds was also utilized for classes. Red Banana (now Save the Children Norway) supported Khnar Primary School throughout the 1990's, enabling it to accommodate grades 1-6 by 1995. In 2003, a Japanese family funded the construction of a concrete block of classrooms and Seila Organization made improvements to the school grounds. SCC supported a second concrete block of classrooms, including a library, and other school improvements in late 2006. Khnar is one of SCC's largest schools in terms of staff and student enrollment.

Supported by SCC since: March 2006

Number of teachers and administrators: 21

Number of pupils: 704

Number of classrooms: 10

Other facilities: library

Electricity: no

Lolei Primary School

Location: Lolei Village, Bakong Commune, Prasat Bakong District

Distance from downtown Siem Reap: 15 km

History: The original Lolei School was built in 1965 by Buddhist Monks, but until 2003, little maintenance had taken place and the building was in a serious state of disrepair. There were three basic concrete classrooms, with holes in the roof and crumbling walls riddled with damp. The well was unusable and the toilet facilities were broken. SCC has since rebuilt the three classrooms, which were opened by the Minister of Education in October 2004, and funded other improvement projects.

Number of teachers and administrators: 6

Number of pupils: 292

Number of classrooms: 3

Other facilities: none

Electricity: no

Phoum Stung Primary School

Location: Stung Village, Bakong Commune, Prasat Bakong District

Distance from downtown Siem Reap: 18 km

History: Phoum Stung Primary School was originally constructed by the community in 1979. The original thatch classrooms provided the school's only infrastructure until 1995, when the community pooled their money to build two concrete classrooms. In 1999, Red Banana (now Save the Children Norway) added a block of three concrete classrooms and latrines. Enrollment and demand has continued to increase, resulting in the construction of two thatch classrooms, one funded from a team of students from Singapore. Phoum Stung is SCC's most recently adopted school.

Number of teachers and administrators: 8

Number of pupils: 498

Number of classrooms: 7 (2 some thatch classrooms)

Other facilities: none

Electricity: no

Wat Mon Thyean Primary School

Location: Kok Rousey Karng Cherng Village, Dan Run Commune, Soney Kum District

Distance from downtown Siem Reap: 37 km (about 1 hour drive)

History: Wat Mon Thyean Primary School stands on the grounds of Mon Thyean pagoda. Its construction was originally funded by Seila Organization in 1997. The school's original two wooden classrooms are still in use. In 2006, SCC supported the construction of a concrete library which provides literacy and other educational activities to Wat Mon Thyean's students. Wat Mon Thyean continues to be an incomplete primary school, teaching only grades 1-4.

Number of teachers and administrators: 5

Number of pupils: 135

Number of classrooms: 2

Other facilities: library

Electricity: no