Schooling in Phnom Penh
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Schooling in Phnom Penh
Does anyone on this board have children of school age with them in Cambodia? I wondered what options there were for primary school age children in Phhom Penh and what the experienvce of other expats was with education and generally raising them over there.
I'm guessing it may be marginally less advantageous to receive an education in Cambodia as opposed to a western standard country. On the other hand I guess the children are getting a richer experience of life and are out of that commercial materialistic way of existing in the west.
Any views on this subject as I guess there are at least a few guys in this situation over there. My child's mixed race but looks and thinks in a very western and more specifically British way even in her short life. Would be a shock for her I guess, to be put into a predominantly Khmer School.
I'm guessing it may be marginally less advantageous to receive an education in Cambodia as opposed to a western standard country. On the other hand I guess the children are getting a richer experience of life and are out of that commercial materialistic way of existing in the west.
Any views on this subject as I guess there are at least a few guys in this situation over there. My child's mixed race but looks and thinks in a very western and more specifically British way even in her short life. Would be a shock for her I guess, to be put into a predominantly Khmer School.
- Jacked Camry
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Yes, that's true, but only in the same marginal way that one might compare, say, a firecracker and a bomb dropped from a B-52.tropicsman wrote:I'm guessing it may be marginally less advantageous to receive an education in Cambodia as opposed to a western standard country.
On top of that, they'll gain the immeasurable advantage of the rote learning system that teaches children the importance of not thinking for yourself, following blindly whatever those in authority tell you to do, the joys of corporal punishment from strangers and ensuring they have no analytical skills whatsoever.tropicsman wrote: On the other hand I guess the children are getting a richer experience of life and are out of that commercial materialistic way of existing in the west.
Yes it would be a shock. And a big mistake in my opinion (obviously). The high-end International Schools are outrageously expensive, so if you're not flush or getting it paid for via your "organization", that's a hard row to hoe. However, there are reasonably priced mid-level international schools that are in my opinion quite reasonable in both cost and quality. Try Ican or Zaman.tropicsman wrote:Any views on this subject as I guess there are at least a few guys in this situation over there. My child's mixed race but looks and thinks in a very western and more specifically British way even in her short life. Would be a shock for her I guess, to be put into a predominantly Khmer School.
My primary school age kids are receiving are better education here in the international schools than I did going through the public school system in the US.
http://www.khmer440.com/chat_forum/view ... 67&start=0
http://www.khmer440.com/chat_forum/view ... 67&start=0
You should expect to pay, or go back to the UK in my opinion.
Mine are pre-school age, and even then, school is $2-3k/year per child. Those mid-level international schools are still $5k/year or more at primary level.
For general upbringing, I think you're right that Cambodia is a richer, more outdoor, and social experience. In the UK, they'd be stuck at home in front of a TV probably not even talking to the neighbours, and ferried to school, shops and friends' houses by car. Ironically, partly from fear of predators, and traffic. Here they are greeted everywhere they go, wander in and out of neighbours houses, play in the street with other kids. On the other hand there are possibly issues like table-manners to consider.
As for khmer schools, one principle I would like to teach my kids is the value of excellence in whatever they do, regardless of any obvious reward, and to pursue it. Of course that's not the only thing, but as an example, do you think that is something a local khmer school would be able to help with ?
It sounds harsh, but I agree with Jacked Camry's assesment. Put it into contrast. Even if Cambodia was wealthy, and had good universities, can you ever imagine a Cambodian space program ? A cure for cancer ? Even Ground-breaking musicians, film directors, writers ?
Mine are pre-school age, and even then, school is $2-3k/year per child. Those mid-level international schools are still $5k/year or more at primary level.
For general upbringing, I think you're right that Cambodia is a richer, more outdoor, and social experience. In the UK, they'd be stuck at home in front of a TV probably not even talking to the neighbours, and ferried to school, shops and friends' houses by car. Ironically, partly from fear of predators, and traffic. Here they are greeted everywhere they go, wander in and out of neighbours houses, play in the street with other kids. On the other hand there are possibly issues like table-manners to consider.
As for khmer schools, one principle I would like to teach my kids is the value of excellence in whatever they do, regardless of any obvious reward, and to pursue it. Of course that's not the only thing, but as an example, do you think that is something a local khmer school would be able to help with ?
It sounds harsh, but I agree with Jacked Camry's assesment. Put it into contrast. Even if Cambodia was wealthy, and had good universities, can you ever imagine a Cambodian space program ? A cure for cancer ? Even Ground-breaking musicians, film directors, writers ?
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Thats pretty much the assessment i expected especially having lived there for a while in the past.
Sounds like most of you guys are planning on staying on over there once your children are school age and then educated them there. There is always home tuition as a supplement to their schooling too i guess. Most of primary schooling can be taught by a reasonably articulate / educated parent. These days theres a great deal of material available on the internet so it's not like you cant gain access to books u need which are published oustside of Cambodia.
Sounds like most of you guys are planning on staying on over there once your children are school age and then educated them there. There is always home tuition as a supplement to their schooling too i guess. Most of primary schooling can be taught by a reasonably articulate / educated parent. These days theres a great deal of material available on the internet so it's not like you cant gain access to books u need which are published oustside of Cambodia.
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I think that's a fair point at primary level, providing the western parent invests sufficient time and energy; it's once the kid gets to the secondary level that you have a real dilemma. Stay and pay through the nose, or leave when the kid is of an age where the cultural wrench could prove traumatic.
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- hanky
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Good thread, it's something I've been thinking of myself although my kid isn't quite school age yet.
There's also that commercial materialistic way of existing in the East that could be a concern..On the other hand I guess the children are getting a richer experience of life and are out of that commercial materialistic way of existing in the west.
Who Gives a Fuck?
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It's nice to complimented on a decent thread for once! Cheers man.hanky wrote:Good thread, it's something I've been thinking of myself although my kid isn't quite school age yet.
There's also that commercial materialistic way of existing in the East that could be a concern..On the other hand I guess the children are getting a richer experience of life and are out of that commercial materialistic way of existing in the west.
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I suppose it depends what and where you expect your kids to graduate into.
I think AndyInAsia hits the nail on the head. In their 'character forming' years up until puberty or a bit before, I think Cambodia offers a lot, but as soon as academic performance, social conformity, institutional cachet, etc, become more important issues, things get more complicated.
I don't think blue chips in London view Hanoi university in the same light as Oxbridge for example. Perhaps Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, etc are more open-minded, I don't know.
I think AndyInAsia hits the nail on the head. In their 'character forming' years up until puberty or a bit before, I think Cambodia offers a lot, but as soon as academic performance, social conformity, institutional cachet, etc, become more important issues, things get more complicated.
I don't think blue chips in London view Hanoi university in the same light as Oxbridge for example. Perhaps Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, etc are more open-minded, I don't know.
I spent all my school life at international schools. If I had children I'd subject them to that kind of school only during the primary years max. After that, and especially for university, they'd most definitely go to Europe.
If you're looking at universities in the region, look no further than Singapore. Forget Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam. They're good enough if you're studying the respective languages or going for a region specific post graduate degree but forget the rest. Why do you think more affluent people send their children to Singapore, Australia or even further afield?
How many unemployed graduates are there in Cambodia? You want to subject your children to that kind of start? I don't think they'll get jobs just because they're half foreigners...
If you're looking at universities in the region, look no further than Singapore. Forget Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam. They're good enough if you're studying the respective languages or going for a region specific post graduate degree but forget the rest. Why do you think more affluent people send their children to Singapore, Australia or even further afield?
How many unemployed graduates are there in Cambodia? You want to subject your children to that kind of start? I don't think they'll get jobs just because they're half foreigners...
I agree completely, with the possible exception of Chulalongkorn in Bangkok for some subjects. Singapore is the only place where the universities will encourage and train the students to think, although I suspect that even there they will emphasize rote learning more than necessary.SunSan wrote:If you're looking at universities in the region, look no further than Singapore. Forget Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam.
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It's maybe OK to send your children to another country for education once they are 16 years or over but frankly I'd not be happy doing that until they were 18 and onto Uni. So they'd have to receive their education wherever I happened to be but that almost certainly means some sacrifice by the parents at times.
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