REPORT FROM DOUGLAS SCHLEMMER: HOW SCHOOLS ARE SELECTED

         The process of selecting schools for this project is not simple. After a donor has contributed funds to build a rural school, a member of our rural school team visits sites where villages have requested a school, a remote area where we feel schools are needed, or follow up on suggestions that reach us from the Social Fund (the World Bank's partner in constructing schools), the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Education or a particular site which a donor suggests. The criteria in selecting schools include safety from land mines, replacing a dangerous  building or  providing a building where children are presently studying outdoors. Other criteria include funding a site which will reduce the walking time for the children to get to school or bringing a school to a village where children have been unable to learn because there are no facilities within reach. The villages have to provide the land. We also avoid building schools inside pagodas as there is frequently friction between the teachers and the Buddhist monks.

         Following is a typical report received after an appraisal trip from Douglas Schlemmer, the program officer and in-country director of our rural school program for nearly two years up to December 2001 when Doug  returned to the United States to pursue graduate studies. This report was submitted to Bernie Krisher, chairman of  American Assistance for Cambodia/Japan Relief for Cambodia which administers the construction of the 200 rural schools, drawing on contributions from donors that are matched by the World Bank.

         After Doug's suggestion were all approved by Bernie the approved schools were submitted to the Social Fund for their review and then finally reported to the village which plays a role in recommending contractors for construction. These are usually local firms who submit bids. The Social Fund then reviews the recommended contractor and if that firm has not violated any previous contracts it is then assigned to build the school. The average cost of a school is around $24,000, including school furniture, a water well and toilets. The World Bank monitors the financing.  Here is Doug's most recent report:

December 5, 2001
 
Koh Kong Background
 
Koh Kong is a unique province, situated in the South-West of Cambodia.  'Koh' means 'island' in Khmer, and much of the province consists of tiny islands, divided by water from the Gulf of Thailand.
 
When speaking of Koh Kong, one refers to two parts - the mainland portion accessible from Phnom Penh by car, and the island accessible by boat from Sre Ambel Town in the North or Sihanoukville Town in the South - it takes four fours from both cities to reach the provincial capital in the middle.  (Actually, when driving to Sihanoukville Town from Phnom Penh on road #4, one passed through the mainland portion of Koh Kong).
 
Though still an isolated, remote corner of Cambodia, Koh Kong is beginning to see more backpacker traffic, as many tourists are now crossing the border into and out of Thailand here, traveling from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, catching the boat to Koh Kong, crossing the border and then traveling to Bangkok by road.  This land and water trip from Phnom Penh to Bangkok can be done in one day.
 
None of these tourists stop in Koh Kong - when I headed off the boat to the town, an immigration officer approached me thinking I was lost trying to get to Thailand.
 
The Trip
 
We already have three completed schools in Koh Kong Province, all in Kompong Seila District located in the mainland part of the province, and accessible from Phnom Penh in two hours by road (The Kirivorn School from Nishimachi, where we held a recent ceremony, is one of our schools in Koh Kong).
 
This trip marked our first venture into the interior, water locked area of the province, where poverty is rampant and boat travel is the only link to the outside world (my back is still sore from sitting hunched over in a boat for three days, but it is a stunningly beautiful area of Cambodia, giving
 
We went first to Sihanoukville, and then jumped a boat to the provincial town of Koh Kong, our base during the trip to explore the neighboring areas for schools.  In returning, we took the boat up North to Sre Ambel, and drove through the mainland portion of the province on the way to Phnom Penh, visiting several schools as well in that area.
 
All of the areas we visited in Koh Kong are considered former Khmer Rouge - Bun Rong recommended this province for this reason.
 
The Schools
 
schools inspected:  17
 
schools approved:  11 (one not visited, but received sufficient info from local officials)
 
maybe schools:  4
 
schools rejected:  2
 
The Maybe Schools - Things To Consider
 
Bernie,  I would to discuss with you the four 'maybe' schools with you to get your opinion on them.
 
One thing to consider is if we want to have this many schools in one province.  If we rejected all of the maybe schools, and approved the 11 above, we would still have 14 schools in Koh Kong. 
 
Another thing - three of my approved schools are in Kompong Seila District, on the mainland, two hours from Phnom Penh.  These sites are very, very needy, but also in the same district of our other three completed schools.  We may not want six schools in one district.
 
If you think we have too many schools for Koh Kong, we can also reject the one school I approved without visiting.
 
With this said, all of the 11 schools I approved are needy and perfect for our organization. 
 
The Maybe Schools
 
1)  Rasmei Samaki
 
This school is in Koh Kong Provincial town, four hours by boat from Sihanoukville of Sre Ambel Towns.
 
This school consists of one wooden building of two rooms in terrible condition.  300 students attend this school.  They would like to tear the old building and build a new one in its place.
 
The catch is - 500 meters from this site are two large concrete school buildings, built by the Ministry of Education and a political party.  These two buildings, plus the third wooden building 500 meters away, together make up Rasmei Samaki School.  The total number of students for these three buildings are 1,469.
 
I am hesitant to approve a new building for the wooden school for two reasons:
 
- it is only 500 meters from two large concrete buildings
- it is rather an urban area, near the provincial capital (but of course nothing like Phnom Penh)
 
We could easily approve this school because the condition of the school is very poor, and one cannot see the other concrete buildings at the site of the new building, if built.
 
What do you think - should we approve?
 
2)  Roung Plan Kay Song School
 
This school is 1:30 hours from Koh Kong town by boat. 
 
It is an one old concrete building built in the 1960's in good condition - the wooden roof supports are poor, though.
 
It has 3 rooms for 137 students.  The villagers are willing to tear down the building to receive a new school, though they were planning on keeping the building.
 
The site is 1 km from Trapeing Roung School, a site I approved for our project.  The catch is that Tranpeing Roung is located 1 km on the other side of big waterway.
 
It seems a bridge will eventually be built connecting the two sides of the river.  The bridge will be complete around 2003.  Once built, kids from Roung Plam Kay Song could attend our school at Trapeing Roung.
 
I am hesitant to approve this school because
 
- apparent lack of need, for the building is not too, too horrible
- the 1 km distance from another JRFC approved school, though it is on the other side of a river.  A bridge in two years will connect these two villages.
 
But, we could approve the site because the villagers are willing to tear down the old building for a new one, and because the kids here would benefit from a new school.
 
What do you think Bernie?
 
3)  Neang Kok School
 
This school is a 30 minute boat ride Koh Kong Town.
 
The school is a wooden building in excellent condition.  352 students attend school in five rooms.  Everything seems fine.
 
But the catch - this wooden building belongs to the monks in the pagoda whose land the school is on.  The building has always belonged to the monks, a gift from a Kathen ceremony.  The monks lent the building to the school because the students had nothing (this is true - I inspected the ruins of the old school - nothing stands there now).
 
The village wants a new school building because the monks want their building back.
 
I am hesitant because
 
- do we really want to build a new school for monks?  These kids have an excellent place to study - do we spend our money because the monks want their building back?
 
In the past, I have rejected sites in similar situations, for lack of need - the kids already had a decent place to study.  But with our new flexible criteria, I present this site to you.
 
What do you think, Bernie?
 
4)  Angkor Phnom Klong School
 
This site in Sre Ambel Town, on the mainland part of Koh Kong.  It is a three hour drive from Phnom Penh, on good roads.
 
The school has one wooden school building in average condition, not great.  It has four rooms for 423 kids.  They want to tear down this building and build a new one.
 
However, the nearest school is 500 meters away, of series of three other big concrete buildings consisting of a Lower School, built by the Ministry of Education.  One must drive by these schools in order to access Angkor Phnom Klong.
 
I am hesitant to approve this school because
 
- it is only 500 meters from two other concrete buildings, which one must pass to access the site
- the relative lack of need - the building is not too, too horrible
- the school is in an urban setting of Sre Ambel Town, the second largest town of the province
 
But, we could approve this site because they do want to tear the building down, and it is slightly over crowded.
 
What do you think, Bernie?
 
Conclusion
 
Bernie, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the four maybe schools, and your opinion on how many schools overall we should approve for Koh Kong.
 
I am off to Kompong Speu tomorrow appraising schools, but will be back tomorrow evening.
 
Best Regards,
 
Doug