Those who have read any of my previous articles will know that I try to address issues of social concern in Cambodia. As a police officer, I am often the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

If we genuinely want to address the issues of crime in our society, we need to address the root causes. The causes are almost always found in childhood, particularly when the social environment is heavily emphasized. Socialization is a term we all need to understand and acknowledge. Even if we don’t have children, we should question our roles in the socialization process as adults.

A simple definition of socialization can be explained as follows. Socialization is how individuals learn and adopt the norms, values, behaviors, and social skills appropriate to their society. It is a lifelong process that starts in childhood and continues throughout a person’s life, influencing their development and integration into their community. Socialization occurs through various agents and mechanisms:

First is family, the primary agent of socialization, where individuals learn about social norms, values, and behaviors. Second is school, which provides formal education and teaches social skills, discipline, and cultural norms. Third is peer groups. This involves influencing behaviors, attitudes, and social skills through interactions with friends and colleagues. Another one is mass media. This imparts cultural norms, values, and knowledge through television, the internet, books, and other forms of media. Second to last is workplaces. The workplace reinforces professional norms, values, and behaviors specific to occupational roles. Lastly, it is religious Institutions. These institutions impart moral values, ethical behaviors, and community norms.

Below, I will try to explain in detail how each point influences individuals. First, as adults, family and schools are perhaps the areas where we can have the most influence.

Within our families, we need to make a special effort to appreciate how our actions affect the next generation. If a child goes off the rails, rather than blame the child, we need to consider where we might have failed. No one can be the perfect parent; all we can do is try our best and not let our imperfections stand in the way of raising the best child we can.

Cambodia has made tremendous strides in the schooling of the young. Indeed, many more developed nations have far more issues with the behavior of children attending schools than Cambodia does. Most Cambodian children are very keen to learn. We must not allow ourselves to fail where other nations are failing. As parents, we can play a supporting role in school activities. A teacher’s lot is not always easy, so anything we can do to support the school and its staff has a payback to us in creating a better society we are a part of.

Read full article: Cambodianess

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The rising cost of education in Cambodia is becoming a growing concern for families across the country. Despite the government’s efforts to improve education standards, the financial burden on parents is increasing, leaving many struggling to fund their children’s education. From high school tuition fees to extra classes and school supplies, families are forced to make difficult financial decisions, often turning to loans to cover these costs.

This blog post explores the reasons behind the escalating cost of education in Cambodia, supported by data and personal stories, to understand the complex dynamics contributing to this issue.

1. Rising Tuition Fees

One of the most significant factors contributing to the rising cost of education in Cambodia is the steady increase in tuition fees. In recent years, private schools, especially those in urban areas, have consistently raised their tuition fees. According to a report by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), the cost of private education has increased by about 20% in the last five years. This surge in fees is partly attributed to the higher operational costs that schools face, such as teacher salaries, infrastructure maintenance, and investment in modern technology.

Even in public schools, where education is officially free, hidden costs exist. Many schools charge parents for additional services, such as exam preparation classes or extracurricular activities, which are essential for students aiming to pass national exams and qualify for higher education. For many families, these extra fees are unaffordable, creating a barrier to education.

Parents like Som Sithor, a mother of three, struggle to keep up with these increasing costs. “I try to save as much as I can to pay for the school fees and extra classes for Grade 12 lessons,” she told Kiripost, highlighting the burden of paying $400 per month for her children’s education, which includes extra classes in core subjects like math, physics, chemistry, and biology.

2. Growing Demand for Private Tutoring

In Cambodia, private tutoring has become an essential part of the education system. For many students, attending extra classes outside regular school hours is critical to passing the national Baccalaureate (Bac II) exams. These exams are a key milestone for students aiming to continue to university, and private tutoring is often seen as necessary to prepare for them.

According to data from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), private tutoring fees account for a significant portion of household spending on education in Cambodia. The average cost for private tutoring can range from $20 to $50 per subject per month, depending on the teacher’s reputation and the subject. For families with multiple children in school, these fees quickly add up, putting a considerable strain on their finances.

Parents like Sithor acknowledge the importance of extra classes but are forced to make difficult decisions. “Financial constraints have meant that while my youngest child has attended extra classes to prepare for the exams, they are not as many as my oldest child,” she said, adding that her children had to suspend their English studies to focus on core subjects.

3. Increased Cost of School Supplies and Materials

Another factor contributing to the rising cost of education is the increasing cost of school supplies and materials. As Cambodia’s economy grows and inflation rises, the prices of textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, and other necessary school materials have also surged. For low-income families, the cost of these basic materials can be overwhelming.

According to UNICEF, the average cost of basic school supplies for a high school student in Cambodia is around $150 per year, not including uniforms or other essential materials like calculators and backpacks. For families living in rural areas, where income levels are lower, these costs are often prohibitive, leading to increased dropout rates and lower school attendance.

For parents like Thorn Thet, from Prey Veng province, these rising costs are becoming increasingly challenging. “The cost of basic materials and school supplies is rising, as well as the expenditure necessary to support children’s educational needs,” he said, expressing his concern about the growing financial pressure on families like his.

4. Economic Pressures and the Cost of Living

The general rise in the cost of living in Cambodia is also having a direct impact on the cost of education. With inflation rates climbing, families are finding it harder to make ends meet, and education costs are becoming an additional burden. The National Institute of Statistics (NIS) reported that Cambodia’s inflation rate hit 4.1% in 2023, driven by rising food and fuel prices. This has had a knock-on effect on household budgets, leaving families with less disposable income to spend on their children’s education.

In urban areas like Phnom Penh, where many private schools and tutoring centers are located, the cost of living is particularly high. Parents not only have to pay for tuition and school supplies but also for transportation, meals, and, in some cases, accommodation for their children. A mother from Phnom Penh, who wished to remain anonymous, told Kiripost that she spends approximately $5,000 a year to support one child’s education, including two different school fees, extra classes, transportation, and a smartphone for digital learning.

5. Teacher Salaries and Quality of Education

The push for higher-quality education has also contributed to rising costs. As Cambodia continues to develop, there is a growing demand for better-trained teachers and more advanced educational resources. This has led to an increase in teacher salaries, especially in private schools, where teachers with higher qualifications and more experience can command better pay.

A study by MoEYS found that the average salary for a qualified teacher in a private school in Phnom Penh is around $800 to $1,200 per month, significantly higher than in public schools, where teachers earn around $250 to $500 per month. Schools pass these costs on to parents through higher tuition fees, making quality education increasingly expensive for many families.

While the higher salaries are necessary to attract and retain skilled teachers, they also contribute to the rising cost of education. As one parent noted, “The education quality is good and acceptable. The teachers are good, but we have to pay more for this quality.”

6. Investment in Technology and Infrastructure

As Cambodia’s education system modernizes, there has been a growing emphasis on integrating technology into classrooms. This shift is part of a broader effort to align Cambodia’s education system with international standards and prepare students for the global economy. However, this investment in technology and infrastructure comes at a cost.

Many schools, especially private institutions, are investing in digital learning platforms, smart classrooms, and updated facilities. While these advancements improve the quality of education, they also increase operational costs, which are passed on to parents through higher fees. Schools now require students to have access to digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, further adding to the financial burden on families.

For example, the mother from Phnom Penh mentioned earlier spends part of her annual education budget on a smartphone for her child, which is essential for completing schoolwork and attending online classes. As digital learning becomes more integral to education in Cambodia, the cost of these devices and associated services is likely to continue rising.

7. Government Policy and Regulation

While the Cambodian government has made significant strides in improving access to education, there are still gaps in policy and regulation that have contributed to the rising cost of education. For instance, while public education is free in principle, in practice, many schools rely on additional fees from parents to cover operational costs. These fees, often referred to as “contributions,” can vary widely from school to school, creating inconsistencies in the cost of education across the country.

Furthermore, the lack of strict regulation on private school fees has allowed many institutions to raise their prices unchecked. While the government has introduced measures to control the quality of education in private schools, there are no comprehensive policies in place to regulate tuition fees, leading to a wide disparity in the cost of private education.

Parents like Thorn Thet are calling for government intervention to help reduce the cost of education. “I suggest that the government help to reduce university fees to enable more students to pursue their dreams,” he said, reflecting the sentiments of many families who are struggling to afford the rising cost of education.

8. The Role of International Education Providers

In recent years, Cambodia has seen an influx of international education providers, particularly in the private school sector. Schools offering international curricula, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or Cambridge programs, have become increasingly popular among wealthy families and expatriates living in Cambodia. However, these schools come with a hefty price tag, with annual tuition fees ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 or more.

The presence of these international schools has driven up the overall cost of private education in Cambodia, as local schools attempt to compete by improving their facilities and services. This has created a two-tiered education system, where families who can afford to pay for international schools have access to world-class education, while those who cannot are left with fewer options.

While international education providers contribute to the diversification of Cambodia’s education system, they also exacerbate inequality and drive up costs for all families, as local schools increase their fees in response to the competition.

9. Economic Growth and Rising Expectations

Cambodia’s rapid economic growth over the past two decades has led to rising expectations for education. As the country continues to develop, more families are prioritizing education as a means of improving their children’s future prospects. This has led to increased demand for high-quality education, which, in turn, has driven up the cost of schooling.

According to the World Bank, Cambodia’s GDP growth rate averaged around 7% per year between 2010 and 2019, one of the highest in the world. As incomes have risen, so too has the demand for better education, particularly in urban areas where families are willing to pay higher fees for private schools and extra tutoring. However, for low- and middle-income families, the rising cost of education is outpacing their ability to pay, leading to increased financial strain.

Parents like Som Sithor express their concerns about the future. “We are concerned that the growing cost of education will become increasingly difficult for parents and their children to meet as their income does not rise,” she said, highlighting the challenge of keeping up with rising educational costs in a rapidly changing economy.

Finding Solutions to the Rising Cost of Education

The rising cost of education in Cambodia is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, from tuition fees and private tutoring to the cost of living and government policy. While there are no easy solutions, addressing this issue will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, schools, and families.

One potential solution is for the government to increase its investment in public education, particularly in rural areas where access to affordable education is limited. By improving the quality of public schools and reducing the reliance on private tutoring, the government can help alleviate some of the financial burden on families.

Another solution is to introduce policies that regulate tuition fees in private schools, ensuring that they remain affordable for all families. This could be coupled with greater transparency around school fees, so parents have a clearer understanding of what they are paying for and why.

Ultimately, addressing the rising cost of education in Cambodia will require a combination of policy changes, increased investment, and a commitment to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality education.

Do you think the rising cost of education is a problem in Cambodia? What steps can the government and schools take to make education more affordable? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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