T HE British Embassy has given $50,000 to Buengtrabak High School, the only

school in the country which taught English pre-1975.

The grant will be

used to renovate 34 classrooms, repair 12 toilets, provide electricity and

stationary supplies.

In a ceremony at the school British ambassador

David Burns said his country wished to improve Cambodian education especially

through providing materials to learn English.

He said: "The English

language is the most widely spoken in the world and will be very beneficial to

Cambodia's future.

"It is important in business and culture and thus the

learning of the language will afford Cambodian's great opportunities for

success."

The British embassy has assisted the training of Cambodian

English teachers.

The Buengtrabak school had no English teachers until

two years ago when the government provided them with seven teachers.

The

principal of the high school, Lon Cheng Key, said: "For 10 years the school had

no assistance from government or NGOs.

"The school only survived through

the contributions made by pupils' parents.

"I would like this school to

be famous again, like it was before the war."

The former SOC government

banned the study of Western languages and forced schools teach Vietnamese and

Russian.