On Cambodia’s Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, navigating the water is a daily reality for schoolchildren. Most mornings, gas-powered boats ferry students from their floating homes in villages like Kampong Prahok to school. Children, some of whom steer the boats themselves, carefully board, ensuring their backpacks remain dry.
The escalating price of fuel, attributed to the ongoing conflict in Iran, is making the journey to school more expensive for these students. This financial strain is leading some children to abandon their education and seek employment to support their families.
Simultaneously, governments in affected parts of Asia are facing financial difficulties that impede their ability to fund crucial education initiatives. School meal programs, which help retain millions of children in classrooms, are also under pressure.