The English School program is an evening, after-class program in Ek Phnom, Battambang Province. Click this link for CNN News coverage:

English language will improve young people's life in many ways. They will be able to enjoy reading and understand books and literatures as well as internet contents that are abundantly published in English. In a simple word, English enable young Cambodian to expand their knowledge in all areas, and to better prepare themselves for higher education.

The evening English School Program has been in existence since June 2002 and run by a young, energetic man, Vann Vanroth. Prior to 2002, the school was run by a businessman. Vanroth was one of his employees. In 2007, due to lacking of fund, the English school faced closure. Vanroth, now a Director of KCD, did not want to see this happen to his community. The closure would have dramatically affected many young kids' lives. He used his own money saving to salvage the school and founded KCD.

Vanroth got his Bachelor Degree of Marketing from the University of Management and Economics (UME) in Battambang in 2004. Currently pursue an MBA program at this university. He works for POFO (Positive Outcome For Orphans) in Homeland funded by National Institute of Health (NIH) of America and Duke University.

The English School at KCD is open Monday through Saturday and starts from 5 PM to 6 PM at Ek Phnom High School. Currently, there are 707 students enrolled in the program. There are 18 classes. Twenty English teachers, one secretary, one supervisor, and one administrator are currently working for KCD.

Currently, each student pays US $1 tuition per month. The tuition will increase in 2009 and beyond. However, students from poor families are always admitted to study for free, if they have a certification from commune leaders stating their socio-economic status.

Lacking of qualified teachers is one of the major problems facing KCD. Low salary (US $15 to US $30 per month) causes qualified teachers to leave KCD as they can earn more elsewhere. To make current teaching staff happy and to encourage them to stay, KCD implement a Teacher Capacity Building Program, that is, teaching the teachers. Click here to view teacher's photo gallery.

Periodically, KCD hires professional from Teaching School in Battambang to come and train its teachers various teaching skills, at a cost of around US$250 per training session. Teachers must sign a contract promising to stay teaching at KCD for at least three years. CEE Foundation is a proud sponsor of this program as well.

KCD connects its program to foreigners who speak English and works in or is visiting Cambodia. They come to the center and interact with students and teachers and give them an opportunity to sharpen their English language skill.

To improve the quality of English learning experiences, KCD creates a Students Support Student Group called 3SG. The mission of 3SG is not only to support English School Program, but also to assist and courage students to study hard and to stay in school until at least graduated from high school.

In cooperation with State Schools, Local Authorities, and Office of Education Youth and Sports in Ek Phnom District, 3SG provides counseling, physical and emotional supports to families and students who may drop out from school. The students may join 3SG as volunteers to learn job experiences and other skills.

All 3SG members, most of them are member of CEE Foundation, have to save money in 3SG Truth Box. This money will be draw when 3SG volunteer find a suitable poor student who is really in need of money.

CEE Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understand with Ek Phnom High School to provide 20 scholarships to qualified 12^th grade student so to attend any university of their choices. Those students must graduate from this Ek Phnom High School in 2008 and must meet other criteria set by CEE Foundation. KCD agrees to facilitate the application process, the disbursement of scholarship fund. KCD and 3SG will serve as a promoter and motivators for the prospect scholarship recipients.

KCD and 3SG are in need of computers, educational software, audio, video and other training materials. We believe the evening English School Program enhances students' future and will reduce a burden to the society. Equipped with English skill, they have a better chance to be admitted to an university and/or to find a job.

Together, we can reduce and eventually eliminate these problems. If you want to sponsor students, or want to help port similar program to somewhere else in Cambodia, please contact us at ceef@ceefoundation.org.


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