In the northeast of Cambodia, nestled amid rubber and cashew plantations in the mountains of Ratanakiri, Kok Ampel’s pre-school offers better opportunities of a brighter future to Kreung indigenous children aged 3 to 6 years old.
Despite not been able to finish high school in her younger days, Chanthu Man started training to become a teacher with the Multilingual Education Programme nearly ten years ago.
I love my job. I get to play with the children and see them smile!
Through fun activities, Chanthu helps the students learn Khmer, Cambodia’s official language, which provides them with essential tools to continue their education.
“It is important that we know where we come from,” she says. “We might learn other languages, but we cannot forget our own.” Chanthu explains that while speaking Kreung is essential to preserve their culture, Khmer helps them communicate with others outside their village and find better jobs.
The great majority of Ratanakiri’s population is indigenous, and while development poses a great threat to their culture, the Multilingual Education Programme aims to provide isolated populations with better opportunities while encouraging the preservation of their roots.
This story is part of a photo exhibition that will be showcased at the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education from 14 to 16 November 2022 Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Conference will reaffirm the right of every young child to quality care and education from birth. It will urge Member States to expand their commitment and investment in ensuring that access of all girls and boys to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
- More on UNESCO’s work in early childhood care and education
