PO Box 482, Port Douglas Qld 4877 info@tabitha.org.au

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SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (Updated July 2011)

This program relies on close cooperation between Tabitha Cambodia, the local communities, the national government (via the Ministry of Education). It is based on the fact that while there is an acute shortage of schools, particularly in rural areas, an excess of teachers are being trained in Phnom Penh. Understanding this situation, Tabitha Cambodia builds and equips schools, and then passes ownership and the responsibility for the running of these schools – including the supply of teachers – to the government through the Ministry of Education.

Over the three-year life of this program, 20 schools have been built providing education for about 15,000 Cambodian children. In the 2010-2011, 13 schools were completed. There are currently 20 communities that Tabitha has identified as needing schools and construction can begin when funding for the schools has been secured.

The acute shortage of schools As communities reach a certain level of development, education of the children becomes a priority. However, in many areas, there are no local schools nor plans for schools to be built. Any existing schools usually have no spare places for extra children. At this point, communities often ask Tabitha Cambodia for help to build a school for their children. Main steps in the program: i) Tabitha Cambodia liaises with the Village, Commune and District chiefs and a

representative of the Ministry of Education. ii) A wealthy villager often donates land for a school (or if there is a run-down

school, this land is used). iii) The land is transferred to the national government and ear-marked for a school. iv) Tabitha Cambodia seeks funding for the planned school. v) Once funding is received, Tabitha Cambodia arranges to local contractors to

build the school (with support from local villagers) vi) When complete, the school is gifted to the national government to run and

maintain.

PO Box 482, Port Douglas Qld 4877 info@tabitha.org.au

www.tabitha.org.au

What does Tabitha provide? • School building • Desks for students • Desks for teachers • Blackboards • A well • Toilets • Metal flagpole What does the government provide? • Teachers • Curriculum • Text books • Maintenance What does the community provide? • Land • Labour to assist carrying materials to the building site and during construction • Accommodation and other support for the teachers assigned to their school

Number of children attending school Depending on the needs and the funds available, schools either have 3, 6 or 12 classrooms. Often smaller schools are built with the expectation that they will be extended when further funds become available. On average, there are 40 children in each classroom. Attendance is maximized by having a morning class of children followed by an afternoon class of different children.

Cost of schools 3-room school: $25,000 6-romm school: $52,000 12-room school: $94,000 A breakdown of the costs of building a 12-room school is included in Appendix A.

PO Box 482, Port Douglas Qld 4877 info@tabitha.org.au

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.APPENDIX A: School Cost - Set of 12 Classrooms Description Units Cost per Unit Total Cost

Steel Rebars - 14 cm 144 $ 12.00 $ 1,728.00 Steel rebars - 12 cm 1056 $ 10.00 $ 10,560.00 Steel Rebars - 6 cm 2400 $ 1.00 $ 2,400.00 Wire for rebars 180 $ 1.00 $ 180.00 Windows 36 $ 50.00 $ 1,800.00 Doors 12 $ 75.00 $ 900.00 Roof Tiles -pieces 32400 $ 0.30 $ 9,720.00 Bricks - pieces 108000 $ 0.10 $ 10,800.00 Nails -kilo 84 $ 10.00 $ 840.00 Sand- cubic meter 180 $ 15.00 $ 2,700.00 Stone - cubic meter 132 $ 13.00 $ 1,716.00 Stone - gravel-cubit meter 120 $ 17.00 $ 2,040.00 Cement per pallette - 60 bags 96 $ 88.00 $ 8,448.00 Wood 5 x 15 x 7 x 20 4 $ 450.00 $ 1,800.00 Wood 4 x 3 x 9 x 72 4 $ 335.00 $ 1,340.00 Wood 15 x 5 x 9 x 4 4 $ 120.00 $ 480.00 Labour and Paint 4 $ 3,750.00 $ 15,000.00 Flag Pole 1 $ 700.00 $ 700.00 Tabitha Adminsistration 1 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00

Total cost $ 78,152.00 Furnishings for 12 Rooms

Description Units Cost per Unit Total Cost Wooden desks - seats 2 420 $ 35.00 $ 14,700.00 Teachers Desk 12 $ 60.00 $ 720.00 Teachers Chair 12 $ 5.00 $ 60.00 Blackboards 12 $ 15.00 $ 180.00

Sub Total $ 15,660.00 Toilet Block - 6 Stalls $ - Need 2 - Boys and Girls $ - Bricks for walls 9000 $ 0.10 $ 900.00 Sand - cubit meter 12 $ 15.00 $ 180.00 Stones for fill - cubit meter 10 $ 17.00 $ 170.00 Drains 30 $ 5.00 $ 150.00 Toilet Bowls 6 $ 25.00 $ 150.00 Cement - bags 78 $ 4.50 $ 351.00 Wood 6 $ 60.00 $ 360.00 Doors 6 $ 60.00 $ 360.00 Tile- cubit meter 24 $ 5.00 $ 120.00 Labour and paint 6 $ 70.00 $ 420.00

Sub Total $ 3,161.00 Well $ - Plastic PVC Pipes 13 $ 5.00 $ 65.00 Filters 1 $ 5.00 $ 5.00 Glue 1 $ 3.00 $ 3.00 Iron Pump 1 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 Handle 1 $ 48.00 $ 48.00 Cement Skirt around well 1 $ 48.00 $ 48.00 Labour 1 $ 37.00 $ 37.00

Sub Total $ 216.00

Total cost $ 97,189.00

PO Box 482, Port Douglas Qld 4877 info@tabitha.org.au

www.tabitha.org.au