“The Human Right to Mother Tongue Schooling: A View from Thailand” - By David Fisher

http://www.box.com/s/83dxexjn1pjevrr52qgb

Difficulties of teaching Khmer language in Surin Province, Thailand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOBjT_UcEdg

Dear All,

The video above is about teaching Khmer in government school in Surin province. However, the school principals have shut down both classes at Phum Si Chruk and Phum Pun, he said Thailand and Cambodia are fighting so he'd better shut down the school.

Thanks
--
"Rights in education also means the right to language"

Chaimongkol Chalermsukjitsri
សមាគមខ្មែរស្រិន្ទ្រ
Center for Khmer Surin Studies (CKSS)
P.O.Box 27. Surin City, Thailand.
http://www.khmerinthailand.org
Email: cheymongkol@gmail.com; khmersurin@gmail.com
Phone 0875815514, 0881044474


https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1424016

Unfair attack on Lok Krou Cheymongkol in Surin?

Dear Readers,

Please find below an attack against Lok Krou Cheymongkol, one of the initiators of Khmer language education in Surin, Thailand. Although the name of the author of this attack is provided as Kong Sophea, the PDF file property clearly states the name of the person who is allegedly behind this attack letter. Please download the PDF file, then open it and click "File" then "Properties..." and you will see it.

We leave it up to you to judge the content of this letter, although, in our humble opinion, it may be best off to leave local people take care of their affairs rather than having external people interfering in local affairs. After all, the local people know best their needs.

Thank you,

KI-Media


http://www.box.net/shared/9a4ov9q0fmzmdgsbap4x

Khmer Surin Associatio​n Newsletter April 2011

Khmer Surin Associatio​n Newsletter April 2011
http://www.scribd.com/full/53320550?access_key=key-tc0qiiqhywlzjkxnbg8

Khmer Srin - Book Donation and First Day

Khmer Srin - Book Donation and First Day
http://www.scribd.com/full/52452284?access_key=key-2j9x62b7nha9j4h4a5ol

Seng Rathanin's letter on the Khmer language education in Surin

Click on the letter to zoom in

Khmer Surin Get Support From US Group

Khmer Surin child learning Khmer language

Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Thursday, 23 December 2010

"All Khmer overseas have come together as one voice to support Khmer Surin in teaching Khmer language and safeguarding Khmer culture.”

A group of US Cambodians has begun looking for ways to encourage an increase in interest of the Khmer language in the Thai province of Surin.

That province was once part of a wider Khmer empire that encompassed parts of modern-day Thailand and Vietnam.

On Saturday, the Supporting Khmer Surin Committee held its first meeting, after a visit by some of its member to the province earlier this year. Members discussed the need to promote Khmer language in the area and the challenges faced by the so-called Khmer Surin people.

“There are many Cambodians doing business across the borders, so it will be easy for them to communicate,” said Srey Ayuthyia, the committee’s vice president, from Los Angeles.

Srey Ayuthyia said he had met with a Buddhist monk who taught the Khmer language and a number of Khmer Surin who expressed their need for more support.

While some Khmer Surin can speak Khmer, few can write it, but the there is a program that started four years ago that Srey Ayuthyia said he strongly supported.

The Supporting Khmer Surin Committee was only recently created, but its founders say they have already raised some funds to help their cause.

“We are not alone,” said Eang Bunthan, president of committee. “We are united around the world. All Khmer overseas have come together as one voice to support Khmer Surin in teaching Khmer language and safeguarding Khmer culture.”

Thank you note from Mr. Bunthan Eang to Mr. Moeung Son regarding Khmer Surin issue

Bunthan Eang

Dear Mr. Son Moeung,

Thank you for your response. You already made decision to resign from your "Presidency", and has planned to return to France. The rain is over. Après la pluie, c'est le beau temps.

SKSC has a long term plan to support Mr. Cheymongkol and his associates for Teaching and Preserving Khmer Culture. It is just the beginning. We have a long way to go.

Regarding all expenses, all donors know how to follow up their donations. We are grateful to have Mr. Cheymongkol who has sacrificed to hold on his program from grass root.

SKSC believes that without financial support, it will be very difficult to keep the program alive. Therefore, patience, determination, and right approach are the steps toward progress and harmony.

I may let you know that I am a retired educator. I hope that SKSC, all supports inside and outside the country, and I can use combined experience to help Mr. Cheymongkol and his associates without making any bad reputation and disadvantage.

Sincerely yours,

Bunthan Eang

SKSC

(562) 200-8379

eangb@yahoo.com

www.apsarakhmer.org

----------------

M. Son Moeung,

Je vous remercie pour votre réponse. Vous avez déjà pris la décision de démissionner de votre «présidence», et a prévu de rentrer en France. La pluie est finie. Après la pluie, C'est beau le temps.

SKSC a un plan à long terme pour appuyer M. Cheymongkol et ses associés pour l'enseignement et la préservation de la culture khmère. Il n'est que le début. Nous avons un long chemin à parcourir.

En ce qui concerne toutes les dépenses, tous les donateurs savent comment le suivi de leurs dons. Nous sommes heureux d'avoir M. Cheymongkol qui a sacrifié à tenir sur son programme à partir de la base. SKSC estime que sans le soutien financier, il sera très difficile de maintenir le programme. Par conséquent, la patience, la détermination et la bonne approche sont les étapes vers le progrès et l'harmonie. .

Je peux vous dire que je suis un éducateur à la retraite. J'espère que SKSC et moi, nous pouvons utiliser l'expérience combinées à l'aide de M. Cheymongkol et ses collaborateurs sans faire de mauvaise réputation et le désavantage.

Veuillez agréer,

Bunthan Eang

SKSC

(562) 200-8379

eangb@yahoo.com

www.apsarakhmer.org

Clarification from the S'rin Language and Culture Association regarding Mr. Moeung Son

Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in

Mr. Chey Mongkol teaching Khmer language in S'rin (Photo: http://picasaweb.google.co.th/khmersurin)

Supporting Khmer Surin Committee's Statement

Click on the statement in English to zoom in

School Children taught Khmer language by Mr. Chey Mongkol in S'rin (Surin), Thailand

Do Not Break Up Khmer [Unity] - A statement by Mr. Chey Mongkol from Srin

The following is a statement issued by Mr. Chey Mongkol of the Srin [Surin] Language and Culture Association in Thailand explaining the reason why he refuses to join the alliance set up by Moeung Son, the president of the Khmer Civilization Foundation. The actions taken by Mr. Moeung Son's group led to an infinite delay in the funding provided by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) to Khmer Srin associations. Furthermore, Mr. Moeung Son would like to establish his base in Wat Svay Pagoda, a center that Mr. Chey Mongkol's Association is already providing Khmer language teaching on a yearly basis. Mr. Chey Mongkol would rather see Mr. Moeng Son starting his activities in an area where Khmer language teaching is not available yet. While Mr. Chey Mongkol refuses to join Mr. Moeung Son's group, he clearly stated that he is not preventing the latter from performing its activities in Srin, however, Mr. Moeung Son must clearly understand the needs and the requirements faced by the local Khmer Srin people and he must not impose his outside views that could seriously affect the wellbeing of Khmer Srin.

Click on the statement in Khmer to zoom in

SKSC Statement

Chhey Mongkol asks Moeung Son not to meddle Khmer Surin's effort to teach Khmer language

Mr. Chey Mongkol

KI-Media Note: On 02 October 2010, Mr. Chhay Mongkol wrote a letter to Moeung Son, the president of the Khmer Civilization Foundation, not to meddle in effort initiated by Khmer Surin, such as that of Mr. Chhay Mongkol, to bring Khmer language education to Surin province. Mr. Chhay Mongkol is concerned that Moeung Son’s intention is not necessarily to teach Khmer Surin, but rather to form some sort of movement due to his sentencing by the Hun Xen regime for criticizing the lighting of Ankor Wat temple. Mr. Moeung Son who escaped to France prior to his conviction, has traveled extensively to seek support to have his case overturned. Mr. Moeung Son’s latest attempt to insert himself in the education of Khmer language in Surin is rightfully viewed with suspicion by Khmer Surin who had put tremendous effort in bringing Khmer language back to Surin as they are concerned that Mr. Moeung Son’s intention could undermine their effort.

The following is Mr. Chhay Mongkol's letter to Moeung Son:

Click on the letter in Khmer to zoom in

In response to Mr. Chhay Mongkol's letter, Moeung Son sent over the following invitation and explanation in Khmer. He also wrote in his email to Mr. Chhay Mongkol:

Dear lok khmuy Mongkul

I hope that you'are not unhappy about my letter in file attached, I consider that you are as my son, so I want that you understand my feeling in favor of your work for social education to the Surin people.

After you read my explanation, I hope that you joint our meeting on 08-10-2010 Wat Svay.

Please check our letter invitation in the attached file.

Invitation to a meeting in Wat Svay:



Moeung Son's explanation letter to Chhay Mongkol:

Bonn Phka Fundraising to help teach Khmer language in Surin, Buriram, Sisaket, Ubol....

Click on the announcement in Khmer and English to zoom in

Bon Phka to help Khmer School in Surin, Thailand

Khmer school in Surin

Where:
Wat Buddharaingsey
124 Route Nationale
69330 Pusignan
France

When:
Sunday 27 June 2010

Contact:
04 72 39 29 58
09 53 09 13 90
04 76 21 16 20

Additional information:
Mr. Cheymongkol (khmersurin@gmail.com)

Khmer language is part of public school curriculum in Surin province

Mr. Chey Mongkol teaching Khmer language to students in Surin province (Photo provided)

09 August 2009
By Kesor Ranya
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer

A source from Surin province indicated that the Surin province education department agreed to include Khmer language as part of the education curriculum in public schools.

While the border dispute along Preah Vihear temple has not been resolved yet, Khmer people living in the North of Surin province indicated that an official authorization was approved for the teaching of Khmer language in public schools in Thailand’s Isan provinces.

Chey Mongkol, Chairman of the Surin province Language and Culture Association, indicated that his association recently made the request to Thailand’s ministry of Education, asking for an official authorization to include several hours of Khmer language reading and writing teaching in school curriculum.

On Wednesday 05 August, the Surin province department of education agreed to this request and it also agreed to organize a conference that will bring in representatives from 30-40 primary and high schools from various districts in the province. The conference goal is to discuss the education of Khmer language in classrooms.

Chey Mongkol said: “I had a good talk with them. I met with the provincial education director to discuss about Khmer language. We had a good talk, we indicated that we live in the same country, there is no need to use the law to confront each other, we seek for a common understanding so that people will not say that Khmer do not hold cordial discussions with others. They agreed, after their meeting, they OKd it, then they asked me what to do? I wanted them to gather school principals and the majority of them agreed to include Khmer language in the teaching curriculum. I was told over the phone that 30-40 schools agreed to it.”

Based on the official plan, Khmer language teaching in public schools will be held for 2 hours per week, starting from grade 1 in elementary school to the end of 12th grade in high school. The teaching will ramp up starting on September, and the first school where the program will be initiated is located in Svay district.

The main problem facing the teaching of Khmer language is the lack of teachers. Chey Mongkol indicated that in order to resolve this issue, he will use students whom he has personally trained through his own initiative to maintain the Khmer language in Thailand.

Chey Mongkol added: “For the teachers, we will use our students, this is better because teachers in those schools are already busy with their work. If we use our students [to teach], this is a mean to attract more people to come to study. Furthermore, these Khmer teachers come from local villages, they do not disappear, unlike bringing teachers from outside and they could disappear very quickly.”