From 1975 to 1979, Cambodia faced a genocide under the Khmer Rouge regime, resulting in the systematic persecution and killing of millions, including 75 percent of all teachers and 96 percent of all tertiary students3. Schools were closed, teachers and educated people were targeted, and the entire education system had to be rebuilt from scratch.²
Though significant progress has been made, Cambodia’s poorer communities still face educational challenges.¹ Approximately 300,000 of children and adolescents remain out of school, and dropout rates remain high.¹ One of the primary obstacles is the absence of basic infrastructure: many schools have insufficient classroom space and adequate facilities for water, sanitation, and hygiene, which causes students to fall behind or miss out on education entirely.¹
This summer, HXP Builders will help make an impact in Cambodia by constructing two additional classrooms for kindergarteners at a local primary school that currently serves 130 students. The current kindergarten classrooms are deteriorating due to termite damage, creating an unsuitable learning environment. HXP Builders’ efforts will help address this critical issue, improving the school’s facilities and benefiting the community for years to come.
Sources:
¹ UNICEF
² UNESCO
³ The Diplomat