The transformation of language planning goals for Chinese school education in Cambodia: modernisation yet heritage?

The increasing number of Mandarin Chinese learners in Cambodia has highlighted the importance of Mandarin Chinese education planning and policy, and the role played by the Federation of Khmer Chinese in Cambodia (FKCC) in supporting the work of Chinese schools in Cambodia. Adopting a case study approach, this paper examines the policies regarding Chinese school education (CSE) in Cambodia, as well as challenges for the local Chinese schools in the implementation of the FKCC's language planning goals. The policy documents revealed that the FKCC has exercised its power as an authorized and influential agency within the Chinese community in the planning of CSE transformation. However, findings of the interviews indicate that the FKCC's intention of CSE transformation is wavering between modernisation and heritage. This creates challenges for the stakeholders in local Chinese schools in the implementation of education reform policies. The authors propose that successful implementation at school level will require language planners to clarify the language planning goals (modernisation or heritage or both), enhance coordination with local stakeholders, and provide guidance to help local stakeholders to develop a deeper understanding of these policies, to support them in fulfilling their responsibility in response to the transformation of language planning goals.