Education

Non Formal School

Objectives:

1. To attract more children that have dropped out of school or never attended school to attend "School on a Mat" in Sam Pou Loon, Phnom Pruk, Gom Reung Districts in Battambang province and Malai District in Banteay Meanchey province.

2. To increase the number of children who have studied at "School on a Mat", that transfer to formal public school.

3. To increase the number of older children who have finished "School on a Mat", that transfer to vocational training.

CHO runs a non formal "School on a Mat" program where teachers set up a classroom outside (i.e. on a mat) in rural areas and thereby attract local children to sit and learn. Children who cannot afford to attend formal school are enrolled here for a year or two in order to give them a basic education. The children are taught how to read and write as well as maths and life skills such as hygiene / sanitation and trafficking awareness. CHO also provides school supplies, Vitamin A nourishment and de-worming for these children.

CHO also conducts home consultations with the children’s parents three times each year in order to emphasize the importance of their child’s education. The target areas are former Khmer Rouge strongholds and many children come from families with illiterate parents who see little value in attending school. Trafficking awareness workshops are also held, to which both parents and children are invited to attend

After graduation from School on a Mat, children are encouraged to attend a public school or undergo vocational training which CHO supports.

In addition to this, CHO runs a children’s camp three times a year in which students from these schools across the district come together for bible training as well as to form friendships and learn from each other.

Formal School

Objectives:

1. Expand education awareness activities to Malai District in order to increase the number of children aged 6 years and over attending public schools.

2. Increase the capacity of formal school teachers in O'Chrouv and Malai.

3. Transfer 8 public schools under CHO leadership to the government.

4. Provide opportunity for disadvantaged children to go to Christian school.

CHO currently supports children in the remote villages, in particular those in the forests. They do this by providing training for potential school teachers and then supporting them after graduation. In this region, teachers do not receive an income from the government so often resort to charging students for lessons. Therefore by paying the teachers a wage, CHO ensures that children will not be forced to pay for their education. CHO further supports these children by providing uniforms and school supplies in order to help them with their schooling.

CHO’s long term objectives include releasing each school to the government after three years.
Another aspect of CHO’s formal school program is to ensure that students from "School on a Mat" and children from disadvantaged families also have the opportunity to attend public school. They support the children by providing uniforms and school supplies in order to reduce the costs of education as well as supporting them spiritually through prayer and bible study.

CHO also supports the upkeep of libraries and kindergartens across the O'Chrouv district as well as training for librarians and kindergarten teachers. CHO provides books and furniture for the libraries as well as soya milk, vitamin A and de-worming for the children in kindergarten.
Each year CHO co-operates with the Ministry of Education to organize a campaign in different towns across the O'Chrouv district in order to raise awareness of child trafficking and the importance of education.