Examining Student Enrolment Patterns: Case of Lower Secondary School in Siem Reap, Cambodia

This chapter examines the grade progress of students in Cambodia, where the government has made significant efforts in the past few decades to ensure equal access to basic education and has achieved remarkable success in expanding primary education. This study employs a cohort method approach that combines a student enrolment record analysis over successive school years with interviews with school stakeholders in a lower secondary school in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The findings showed a significant increase in enrolment rates at the surveyed schools. In particular, a rise in female enrolment and commendable progress in narrowing the gender gap were observed. Although the most prevalent enrolment pattern was direct completion without grade repetition, this represented only about one-third of the students because many students did not complete their final lower secondary level. The second and third most common patterns were dropping out in grades 7 and 8. The interview data suggested that students dropped out because of engagement in economic activities, marriage or difficulties in commuting from home to school. These findings indicate that students from disadvantaged backgrounds face persistent challenges in completing compulsory basic education in Cambodia. Addressing this challenge requires a concerted effort from the government, schools and families.