by v12 » Sat Jul 25, 2020 2:12 am
Beltei is a mix of Primary/Secondary/High school education for the official general Khmer education as well as a separate curriculum with dedicated English language school for both children/teenagers and adults ("evening school"). For the money it costs, I don't think it's bad and it earns praises, however it is certainly not the level of "Western" (especially European) education. Western education, where children get "taught" to think for themselves, instead of become a "follower".
Western is a bit of the same, where children start at a somewhat younger age, though I value Beltei significantly higher than Western International school (provided we consider the same "Western" school).
Regarding the lack of decision at MoEYS: Understandable, since nobody wants to burn their fingers on things suddenly get out of control, which can happen in less than a week, if just bad luck happens and a superspreader shows up at school (IE the popular person interacting with a lot of people, infecting all of them). So, as long as HS does not "encourage" the schools to restart, nobody will take initiative for that. After all, despite its official democratic structure, Cambodia is effectively quite similar to a dictatorship (less the often very violent control mechanisms often coming with dictatorships).
Regarding the "costs" vs. "effectiveness" of remote education: I think, it's not that bad, provided the parents do have a very close eye on the children attending the remote lessons and follow up (and are able to do so) on "making homework".
After all, who does have the benefit, the school education system stays in place ? In the end the parents, I would say.
When these schools go out of business, it'll take many years before a similar infrastructure is rebuild from nearly scratch, leaving parents in twilight for many years.
So, I already decided to continue with the Beltei school for my kids. They might duplicate a year, etc, so be it, though my approach is to better "invest" now in having the schooling infrastructure kept alive, then effectively create a nowhere to go for schooling after the crisis is over.
Let's not forget, that founding and building all these schools has been a tremendous effort, despite many K440 "complaining" about these schools being not that perfect. Could be, but there were Cambodians (and foreigners) prepared to put their energy in it and build this school infrastructure from nothing. I think, we should be grateful for that and help the schools to continue to exist.
Beltei is a mix of Primary/Secondary/High school education for the official general Khmer education as well as a separate curriculum with dedicated English language school for both children/teenagers and adults ("evening school"). For the money it costs, I don't think it's bad and it earns praises, however it is certainly not the level of "Western" (especially European) education. Western education, where children get "taught" to think for themselves, instead of become a "follower".
Western is a bit of the same, where children start at a somewhat younger age, though I value Beltei significantly higher than Western International school (provided we consider the same "Western" school).
Regarding the lack of decision at MoEYS: Understandable, since nobody wants to burn their fingers on things suddenly get out of control, which can happen in less than a week, if just bad luck happens and a superspreader shows up at school (IE the popular person interacting with a lot of people, infecting all of them). So, as long as HS does not "encourage" the schools to restart, nobody will take initiative for that. After all, despite its official democratic structure, Cambodia is effectively quite similar to a dictatorship (less the often very violent control mechanisms often coming with dictatorships).
Regarding the "costs" vs. "effectiveness" of remote education: I think, it's not that bad, provided the parents do have a very close eye on the children attending the remote lessons and follow up (and are able to do so) on "making homework".
After all, who does have the benefit, the school education system stays in place ? In the end the parents, I would say.
When these schools go out of business, it'll take many years before a similar infrastructure is rebuild from nearly scratch, leaving parents in twilight for many years.
So, I already decided to continue with the Beltei school for my kids. They might duplicate a year, etc, so be it, though my approach is to better "invest" now in having the schooling infrastructure kept alive, then effectively create a nowhere to go for schooling after the crisis is over.
Let's not forget, that founding and building all these schools has been a tremendous effort, despite many K440 "complaining" about these schools being not that perfect. Could be, but there were Cambodians (and foreigners) prepared to put their energy in it and build this school infrastructure from nothing. I think, we should be grateful for that and help the schools to continue to exist.