what the school costs to run

What the School Costs to Run

In Cambodia teachers receive around $US50 per month.
The school costs just over $US600 per month to run.
There are capital projects coming up – more building and computers for students.

You can help us! The school costs at least $US600 per month to run. Savong's School is a small rural three-classroom school 25kms East from Siem Reap, near Angkor Wat. It has four teachers who work full-time, usually in the afternoon-evening shifts. The school also employs two or three other assistants- helping around the grounds and, after a bike theft late in 2005, providing an element of security. (We bought the boy a new bike – he and his family were over the moon.)

In Cambodia teachers in the State system receive around $US 50 salary per month, and at Savong's school we match those rates. The other staff receive a lesser sum and salaries come to around $US 320 per month.

The school also has other costs. Running the generator, running an email and phone account all cost a lot by local standards, and so does the petrol for running around to get supplies, books, photocopying of lessons etc. These costs come to around $US 200 per month – sometimes more.

Finally there are the discretionary costs each month. These might be textbooks, stationery for the students or felt markers. At the same time, the teachers may also be obligated to attend local funerals – grandparents of the school kids – and following local protocol be expected to make small donations to those families. We've always seen this as part of the bridge-building between the school and its community: something that Savong (photo) is very good at doing.

Beyond these running costs, the school has some projects coming up for 2007 including the building of additional classrooms and office, a set of three computers for the students.