Development is not supposed to develop only in urban areas but also in remote site. For this context, Ratanakiri province is also one among those rural ones. Right now, infrastructure is going to be well organized, for instance, new road from Ratanakiri has been building up.
What will be changed after any infrastructure systems have been growing up in rural site step by step? And what will youths be able to get from this changing?
Heak Bros, in age of 30, seller at Boeung Yark Loam lake, said that road of Ratanakiri since has been rehabilitated, more tourists also come. “60% is local and 40% is international tourists.”
Sok Sothearith, 22, actually he is from Kampong Cham province but he has come work in Ratanakiri for six years, said clean water and electricity system there is not the problem, which is available, so focusing point on is road and now we have new traffic road; it will be good for students there. Though it is a bit dust, that road gonna be fine then.
Heak Bros also mentioned that both positive and negative impact of modernization in rural area. He said it will be a bit changing for youths because though this province can get more tourists, youths there just get various jobs such as seller or service providers. For educational benefit, he is not hopeful yet.
Regardless with Nget Pitou, Director of Tourism Department at Ratanakiri, Ratanakiri province is eco-tourism among East North 4 provinces in our Kingdom. “After building up new National road number 78 from Opong Mon to Balung, provincial of Ratanakiri, 300 000 tourists are estimated to increase by 2015.”
Pitou also claimed that more students are tended to study Tourism in their major. He accepted that it is hard to say about rate of students growing up. What he knows is that most of tourism benefit will reach directly to community, so more or less, youths must be gotten.
Chan Kham Khuer, Director of Education department in Ratanakiri, said that rate of dropping school of students are reducing after establishing more high schools in remote districts. Before, there were only 2 high schools but now 5 high schools have been processing.
She accepted that the problem is just for students after high schools because it is only one university in Ratanakiri provincial town and the problem department of education Youths and Sport cannot response properly. Therefore, rich students can pursue their degree but the indigent ones still find jobs in their community.
Chan Ngok, in age of 26, is a minority guy (Kreng Ethnic Groups). Ratanakiri is his motherland, is living and studying in Phnom Penh. He is Medical student year 6th at Universite des science de la sante du cambodge says “Youths seem unwilling to participate in both social activities and Non-government organizations.”
Medical student, Chan Ngok, explained more that to encourage countryside youths to participate willingly, community should explain to youths what benefit they will get from rural development.
“Youths have to get something new being able to build up their community and families. Mainly, youths have to be well educated and know what their future goal obviously and also something related to land conflict, forest destruction, and political issue.” Chan Ngok says.
Ngok ensured that after getting graduated, he will step back to his motherland in order to develop his community. Anyways, he has to be ready for this step “I have to be well prepared both living condition and stereotype. Political issue also has to be concerned. I also find fund to develop there.”
Chan Ngok also assisted that though right now Ratanakiri has well done in infrastructure system, still government has to harden social service and eliminate corruption in public school or other institutions, as the result, youths will get transparently developing society.
