US-Cambodians Seek Solutions for Dropouts
At least one group in California is seeking to curb the school dropout trend by putting Cambodian teenagers back in touch with their ro
Growing up, a teenager can divert from a normal life insociety as an adult by getting involved in gangs or drugs, or becoming pregnantat a young age. Many such teens have troubled lives at home that include abuseor negligence. Cambodian teenagers in the US are no different. They face anumber of challenges that can lead to their dropping out of school, includingfamily and social pressures, said Var Sereyvuth, a liaison of the Community andFamily Engagement Network to school districts in Fresno, Calif. Many simply can't finish school because they must work tosupport their families, he said. At least one group in Fresnois seeking to curb the dropout trend by putting Cambodian teenagers back in touch withtheir roots and their parents. Nhim Setha, executive director of the Khmer Emerging EducationProgram, said Cambodian children, ignorant and disregarding their culturalbackground, sometimes drift away from their parents and school. "We believe for the students that dropped out of school or joined gangs,there was no program available to help or educate them," Nhim Setha said."The Khmer Emerging Education Program is teaching Cambodian children inthe Fresnocommunity to write and to read Khmer, which means learning a new alphabet.Alongside grammar, we teach them morals and bring them closer to their parents,which in turn has improved their performance in school." The most important lessons the group has learned are that parents should spendtime with their children, provide children with after-school activities andgive them the attention and love they need. The risk factors affecting Cambodian high school dropouts include poor grades,disinterest in school, lack of money, laziness, marriage pressure, failinggrades, learning disabilities, social or cultural problems, peer pressureand full time work. Some teenagers don't see the benefit of finishingschool, Var Sereyvuth said. "Another reason for the high rate of Cambodian dropouts is from parentswho are unable to provide the necessary day-to-day care," he said. "Thisis from uneducated parents, parents with gambling addictions, parents whocannot communicate with their children due to lack of English skills or,simply, parents who just don't care." Another large problem is the growing groups of Cambodian gangs who continuallyrecruit children and teenagers to sell drugs or participate in other illegal acts. Teenagers may feel overwhelmed by the emotional and physical changes they are goingthrough. At the same time, teens may be facing a number of pressures fromfriends to fit in as well as to perform well in school from parents, adults.