Problems for Private Schools Amid Covid19

The three articles linked bellow relate problems the private schools are facing in Cambodia during because of the Covid19 situation.

As many businesses during these pandemic times, private schools are facing difficulties. 

First of all, there are some financial difficulties due to the closure of the schools by the Ministry of Education on March 16^th. 

It is interesting to read the comments on the Facebook pages of the Khmer Times or Phnom Penh Post. The first reactions show some kind of anger towards them. These schools, which are very lucrative businesses, took large amounts of money for years start complaining and asking for help after a few weeks of closure only. Many readers highlight the fact that they never really cared about education, which is probably true. In fact, their claim for help appear to be inappropriate.

These school turned, or tried to switch, to some kind of online teaching. The aim was to maintain the fees coming in. The National Education is also trying to maintain the course of the school year through programs on TV and internet.

That particular International School which annual fee is around $5000 switched online very quickly. The Head of curriculum of that school made an online meeting to present the new program to parents. 

That was done with a lot of reactivity on march 17^th. 

At the beginning of the video, he is laying in his leather chair. The teacher who is translating in Khmer has messy plastic baskets behind her and is hardly audible when the director is clear. Does it betray amateurism? Apparently, yes! They are demonstrating their lack of preparation live! The problem is not to discover new technologies during a parents’ meeting, it is to ask for $5000 dollars from students for that!

Some parents asked for 50% discount, they will get between 15 and 25%. They even asked for 100% discount for Kindergarten because they have to be online with the kid all the time. It shows that unfortunately schools are used more as places where you drop your kids to have free time than really schools.

Nevertheless, this school did a very good job very early determining Synchronous Vs Asynchronous periods for online teaching, clear materials and organization. 

The problems with private schools in general, is to provide a low quality of teaching, which makes the switch to online teaching difficult. Students are not used the learn in autonomy because of a kind of teaching that hasn’t changed since the 19^th century! On the other hand, students and their families choose this or that school more for showing off than for the quality of education.

The Covid19 crises reveals the problems.

To that extend, it gives all of us the opportunity of reflecting on our practices. It’s about time to bring Cambodia to the next level!

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/private-school-parents-petition-lower-fees?fbclid=IwAR16PPZOCo6nwbF6W5pauw67VKLvhz07qwN97bRpx8KjoGPvgQbGFZ11Zj8

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50715952/parents-demand-school-fee-relaxation-over-temporary-closures/ 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50713130/financial-ruin-for-private-schools/

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/private-schools-struggling?fbclid=IwAR3L1CTeQv-SBw05VYX0hGtDSxZa2itOO9jgSxFQQC_RgSzaChzs