At least 20 percent of Cambodian schools have been severely damaged by floods, according to preliminary estimates by the Ministry of Education, and that figure could double when more data becomes available.
At least half a million primary and secondary school students have been affected, according to a recent report by the ministry based on satellite data gathered with help from the World Food Program and European Union between late August and early September.
But the report stresses that those estimates are conservative. The World Food Program estimates as many as 1 million students have had classes disrupted by flooding. The ministry plans to conduct a more detailed survey in November.
Five hundred schools around the country were prevented from opening when the school year began two weeks ago, according to Leang Ngoung Ly, chief of general studies and secondary schools The worst affected are Kompong Cham province with at least 359 schools damaged, Prey Veng with 210, and Kandal with 195, the report says.
Repairs to buildings will cost between $3.6 million and $10.9 million, the report estimates. The ministry will need to spend at least another $3.6 million to replace damaged furniture, blackboards, and books.
The report also warns of long-term spin-off affects from the floods—damaged roads will stop access to many schools, restoring homes and property may prevent families from sending students back to school, and food shortages and water-borne disease may prevent teachers from returning to work. Overall, the World Food Program estimates 40 percent of the country has been severely affected by this year’s flooding; some of the worst on record.
