Hoping to Never be Cheated Again
Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - by seiha
Under a big stilt-house, 15 women, aged between 18 and 45, are sitting on palm mats. Beside them are writing boards, books, notebooks and pencils. Following the teacher, the women carefully pronounce each word written on the board, just like grade one students. This is a literacy class in Ang Khlaeu Village in Tbaeng Commune, Kandal Stueng District, Kandal Province, only 30 km south from Phnom Penh.
"Now you, Porn Sorphea," the teacher asks a 26 year old woman to read. At first, Sorphea misreads, but her friends correct her. It has been 15 years since she last went to school. When her parents died, Sorphea, who was the first born, had to quit second grade to earn money for herself and her siblings. "Now I have come to study here, because I want to know how to add and subtract," the mother of four explains. "I come in my free time in the afternoons. I think my children will benefit if I can teach them, too." „My new studies will help me and my children in the future,” says Porn Sorphea.
The topic today is the trafficking of women and children. Students are asked to write about the topic on their own writing boards and then to discuss it. Later, 30 year old Pheap, a mother of three, comments: "The teacher instructs me on domestic violence, illness and the dangers for women following false promises. I learn a lot and want to know more."
Neoun Thy, 45, is the oldest student in the class. She says, "to know about human trafficking is of benefit to us and the next generation. It prevents us from being cheated." Neoun Thy, who stopped school in grade 4, can read a little and was not ashamed to go back to school. "I like the teacher and it´s free. Books and writing boards are provided."
Sroy Kim looks into the future: "When we do business, we can easily be cheated if we do not know how to count." That‘s why she comes two hours every day except Sunday, since April, with support from the District‘s Office of Education.
Moung Oun, Chief of Ang Khlaeu village with 148 families, is also supportive: "I want the villagers to be smart, most of them were only reached grade 6." The chief is 67 years old and always watches the class. "I encouraged the men to also join the class. But they refused and went to work as construction workers in Phnom Penh." Out of 25 students, only three are men.
The class's teacher, 37 year old Mao Sophea, used to teach for the Seila program and now teaches for the Ministry of Education, Youths and Sports. She herself studied until grade 11. Today a teacher, she earns 113,000 Riel a month.
"My students will be able to keep track of their childrens' education," she says and looks content. However, teaching adults with many responsibilities is a challenge. "If the students can study during the day, then I will teach at daytime.
If the students want to study in the evening, then I teach in the evening. The students are the ones to choose the time." Her approach works. Two months into the six-month-course, her students know how to improve their rice crops, how to use insecticides and how to properly apply fertilizer to their fields.
Mey Savath, deputy of the District‘s Office of Education says, "If we compare these students after six months to those of a formal class, they will perform as well as fifth graders." But the quality of their education is different.
"Non-formal education focuses mostly on the meaning," he explains. Even if students cannot read some questions or articles, and can’t write properly, they can still explain the meaning." This is the goal of non-formal education: "To be good in doing and in practice."
Mao Sophea laughs. "Some villagers only want to learn how to do business. If I teach them how to earn money, they are interested. But if they know nothing, they must join the other course first." As a teacher for adults, she knows that she must be firm. "Children are easier to teach. The older ones forget a lot." Before every lesson, she revises the last. "Many students drop out of school because it takes them so long to get here. Some are afraid of gangsters and dare not let their children go far. Others prefer for the kids to work in a garment factory." The Author: Khiev S. Whattana
