Meas Kong School Project
A brief rundown on our Meas Kong School Project providing some educational, as well as sports and games materials to this rural Cambodian school in Kampong Thom Province in the central part of the kingdom. As with many rural schools in what is a rapidly developing, albeit still relatively poor country, Meas Kong is underfunded and oversubscribed. Traditionally in Cambodia- kids spend only half days, either morning or afternoon, at school. This compromise means half the number school buildings and teachers are required and also leaves the children free for part of the day to help the parents on the farm or market stall
Meeting with the school headmaster and teacher Some of the hard-pressed teachers at Meas Kong primary school, Baray District in Cambodia’s Kampong Thom Province and below…..some of the kids! (It can also be hard to find teachers, even if funds are available, since young, aspiring teachers completing training college often prefer to find employment in as larger town or city where, in addition to the social advantages, salaries are higher, rather then being stuck in a remote village in the middle of nowhere. )
The kids at Prasat Kuhananokor Meas Kong then is a large school – some 1,200 pupils – serving 5 villages in this rural sub-district. The primary and junior schools are located next to the 11th-century ruins of Prasat Kuhananokor – which is how we first met some of the teachers. Since we’ve been including this off-the-beaten-track temple on our Cambodia Overland tours we’ve become friends with some of the teachers and now organise regular donations of pens, books, sports equipment etc to the underfunded rural school. All contributions are gratefully received and anyone interested can contact Lesley in the UK office at info@allpointseast.com re the Meas Kong Primary School Project.
The 11th-century temple The village lies just off Highway 6, the main route connecting Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and makes for a convenient break during our drive across country. The temple itself is a well-preserved one, probably dating to the early 11th century reign of Angkorian King Suryavarman I.
