A teacher at Kork Ponlei Primary School in Banteay Meanchey province’s Mongkol Borei district called on philanthropists to donate clothing and school supplies to nearly 30 underprivileged students.
Teacher Savoeun Narim said students at his school are from remote areas and are generally very poor even though their families receive IDPoor benefit cards from the government.
She said that among the 500 students attending the primary school, nearly 30 are in need of study materials as their families have migrated to work in Thailand while many others live with their grandmothers, though some are actually orphans.
According to Narim, the students lack basic study materials, uniforms and even casual clothing to wear outside of school, while their families depend heavily on government support that is not sufficient to cover such expenses.
“After seeing this, I posted a call on social media to ask philanthropists who have unused children’s clothes to donate to nearly 30 needy students along with some study materials, so that it would not hinder their learning,” she said.
“We only appealed on social media and from the teachers in the school, because we did not dare to ask the commune authorities and the provincial education department,” she said.
Deputy provincial governor Ly Sary said officials were looking into this and would do what it could to ease their difficulties.
“We will provide support through the education department or local authorities after we verify that her claims are true,” he said.
The primary school, located in Chamnoam commune’s Kork Ponlei village, has three concrete buildings with children from four villages studying there.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesman Ros Soveacha said that normally the local board of education would deal with cases like these in their schools by taking action according to the actual situation.
“Therefore, if necessary, the management committee of educational institutions can cooperate with their provincial education department,” he said.
