The long term impact of the Khmer Rouge on current day Cambodian education
The Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, had a devastating impact on the country’s education system and its children. During this time, the regime implemented policies that led to the widespread destruction of schools, the killing of teachers and intellectuals, and the disruption of traditional family structures.
One of the first actions taken by the Khmer Rouge upon coming to power was to evacuate the cities and send the entire population to the countryside to work in collective farms and labor camps. This included school-aged children, who were separated from their families and forced to work long hours in grueling conditions. As a result, education was put on hold and many children lost the opportunity to attend school.
The Khmer Rouge regime also implemented a radical social engineering experiment called the “New People” program, which aimed to create a new society without classes, money, or private property. This included the abolition of all forms of education and the execution of teachers, intellectuals, and other educated individuals, who were viewed as a threat to the regime’s ideology.
The impact of the Khmer Rouge on education in Cambodia has had long-lasting effects that are still felt today. Many children who were forced to work in labor camps during the regime’s rule missed out on critical years of education, which has had a negative impact on their future prospects and opportunities. Additionally, the loss of teachers and the destruction of schools during this time has resulted in a shortage of trained educators and inadequate educational facilities in the country.
