Mother Tongue-based Literacy Programmes: Case Studies of Good ...

BackgroundCurrent Situation of Minorities© POEYS © POEYSThe Bunong skillfully use the naturalresources of their environment. They areknown for their ability to hunt and tameelephants.© POEYS© POEYSCambodia has a population of 14 million people,of which there are an estimated 19 languages and30-40 ethnic minority groups. The majority of thepopulation is Khmer, which is also the nationallanguage. Most of the indigenous minoritygroups live in Cambodia’s remote highlandprovinces, in much the same way as they have forthe last few hundred years. Now with improvedinfrastructure, they are increasingly exposed tothe national society. Schools, roads, and marketsare increasing in number and bringing fastchange and opportunities that the hill peoplehave never had before. However, widespreadilliteracy prevents them from accessingthese opportunities and participating in thedevelopment of their provinces.Mother-Tongue and Bilingual Education in CambodiaWith the promotion of Education for All, the RoyalGovernment of Cambodia (RGC) is aware of theneed to make education accessible to all. TheMinistry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS)is beginning to see that bilingual education maybe an effective way of meeting the educationalneeds of Cambodia’s ethnic minorities whileenabling them to participate in Khmer society.Although there are no explicit policies for mothertongueand bilingual education in the country,the RGC has supported several efforts to providemother tongue and bilingual education programmes in the country during the last decade. These includethe non-formal education (NFE) programmes in the northeastern province of Ratanakiri, through thework of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as International Cooperation Cambodia (ICC) andNon-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). ICC started classes in the Krung and Tumpuen minority languagesin the mid-1990s. Later, the programmes were expanded to include the minority language groups Braoand Kavet. Youth With a Mission (YWAM) is working with the Kavet in Stung Traeng Province, using theorthography and programme developed by ICC. In 2002, the NGO Care started a pilot bilingual education[ 56 ]