| Abstract | The research examined a 9-year compulsory education in Cambodia which is responded to the national educational policy of the country. The study was focused on the current situation of the compulsory education including school's enrolment, facilities, accessibility, affordability, performance of pupils, perception of parents and children on their motivation and benefits gained from the compulsory education. A comparative study was conducted between the two types of schools: one is the State supported school (Kbal Samraong) and the other one is the State and NGOs supported school (Kdie Tatem). A field work was conducted in Samraong district of Takeo province, Cambodia. Data were gathered both from primary and secondary sources. The primary data was basically obtained from a household survey with sampled households stratified by poor (PHHs) and non-poor households (NPHHs). In addition, other primary data collection methods were applied including field observation, key informants interview and focus group discussion of relevant key stakeholders involved. The research showed the same key findings of both study schools related to high enrolment rate of the kindergarten, low rate of pupils' repetition and dropouts, school's transfer. In both schools, the number of drop-out girls was higher than boys as they had to work out to support their family even at their young age primarily due to their poverty. The children from the NPHHs had more opportunities to attend regular classes due to the support of their family economically. The pupils from both schools were suffered by the lack of scholarships provided by the State particularly among the PHHs. In comparison between the Kbal Samraong and the Kdie Tatem, it was found out that due to additional support from the NGOs to the school; the children from the Kdie Tatem had a better performance in school library's attendance, obtained sufficient textbooks and educational materials. The school building and library had been in good condition with proper maintenance while those were different from the Kbal Samraong where relatively poorer school building, facilities had and maintenance due to the lack of budget from the State. The parents from the NPHHs of both schools expected the university education level for their children while it was at the upper secondary level for those from the PHHs. Among the children of both school, they expected to be literate in Khmer language. The two study schools faced similar problems including low rate of school enrolment, insufficient support, poor conditions of school and teaching facilities, limited quality of teachers, less follow-up of the parents for the children's education, low income of households, work contribution of the children and lack of sport and creation. Meanwhile, the unfavorable school environment including gambling and drinking surrounding the school compound in Kdie Tatem was a social problem affecting the children's behavior. A set of recommendations were given to both study schools to improve the performance of the compulsory education by improving the assistance provided to pupils from the PHHs, school structure and facilities, quality of school teachers and implications on future school curriculum. This is responded to the implementation of the national policy of the basic education for all (EFA) in Cambodia. |