School 135 poor Cambodian children to prosperity.

The Helping Slow or Weak Learners Program was established by Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC) under the Children’s Basic Education (CBE) School Project, which has been providing educational opportunities to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the Beoung Kak slum area since 2007. While the project has supported many children to access and complete their education, some still face difficulties achieving good academic results due to social and learning challenges. To ensure that no child is left behind, SCC initiated this program to provide additional academic support, helping children strengthen their learning abilities, confidence, and motivation.

The main objectives of the program are to:

• Improve children’s basic skills in the Khmer language and mathematics;
• Build confidence and motivation among students with low academic performance.
• Support OVC who struggle to keep up with their peers; and
• Reduce educational inequality by offering free extra classes for children in need.

The program provides free after-school lessons conducted by CBE teachers for students requiring extra help. It operates in two groups: Basic Khmer Learners, who are just beginning to read and write Khmer, and Students Behind in Public School, who lack foundational knowledge and need further assistance. Teachers identify and prioritise students for participation based on their study monitoring books and academic performance. Lessons focus mainly on Khmer spelling, reading, writing, and comprehension, as well as basic mathematics.

Children from the surrounding community who are from poor families and face similar learning difficulties are also welcome to join. Currently, over 20 students, including several from outside the CBE school, attend these classes. The program has shown encouraging results — many students have improved their reading and writing skills, becoming more confident and eager to learn. Teachers dedicate their time to guide, motivate, and communicate closely with each student, while parents and caregivers express great satisfaction and relief seeing their children’s academic progress without the financial burden of extra tuition fees.