The impact of flooding on primary education in Kroch Chmar District, Tbong Khmum Province, Cambodia

Abstract

Cambodia is a vulnerable country to natural disasters such as flood and tropical storms; it ranked as the world’s 9th worst affected by disaster. In particular, flood has affected to people’s lives and education in the flood-prone areas. Accordingly, the research aimed to provide a thorough understanding of the impact of floods on the education and underlying causes of the community’s vulnerability. The research takes a close look upon: how worst flood has affected children schooling, perception of parents regarding children performance and safety at school during flood, as well as problems and challenges faced from flooding on flood-prone community vis-à-vis curriculum, and infrastructure. The research found that (1) flood interrupted schools because classes were suspended or closed between two weeks and a month. (2) Girls were the most vulnerable to the floods and their parents concerned about their safety during the flood. (3) There was related association between risks happened during flood and coming to schools; but it was significantly associated between impacts of flood and students’ repetition. (4) The students satisfied with physical infrastructures and school services because the schools could create fairly good learning environment. In the future, impacts of flood on education may be improved through resource mobilization and capacity building of the schools to implement flood risk management effectively.