(Mis)Trust and (Abuse of) Authority in Cambodian Education: Parallel Lessons in the Shadow

Abstract

Across the globe, recent decades have brought huge growth of private supplementary education delivered alongside regular schooling. Some types of supplementary education are widely called shadow education because their curricula mimic those of mainstream classes. In Cambodia, supplementary parallel classes are commonly taught by the same teachers as in regular schooling, to some of the same students, and in their own schools. When recruiting students for the private lessons, the teachers use the authority conferred on them as teachers. This can damage trust in the school system, but most families lack power to challenge the arrangements. While Cambodia may be an extreme case, the chapter suggests that basic patterns have relevance to many countries.