Going to School in Cambodia

Education in Cambodia has long been rooted in community, faith, and tradition. During the Angkor period, learning took place primarily in temples, where monks taught literacy, moral values, and cultural knowledge that has shaped Cambodian society.

That foundation was disrupted in the 20th century. Under French colonial rule, formal schooling expanded, and began to look more like the western system of education in the early 1960’s, however it was limited in reach. When the Khmer Rouge took control of the country in 1975, schools were closed and educators were targeted, greatly impacting (some might even say destroying) the modern system of education that was just starting to take root - consequences of which are still felt throughout the country today.