This article from the Phnom Penh Post discusses recent government reforms of orphanages in Cambodia in response to the rising incidence of families sending children to these institutions for educational opportunities that are not available in some communities. The goal of these reforms, according to the article, is to reintegrate 30% of the country's orphanage population into families. Citing recent reports from Columbia University and UNICEF, the article states that an estimated 49,000 children are living in institutions in Cambodia, and that as many as 39,000 of them have been sent to live in these facilities by their families, the largest contributing factor for placement being educational access.
The article also refers to the phenomenon of "voluntourism," in which foreigners donate time and money to orphanages in the country, pouring funds "into orphanage owners’ pockets, unknowingly for personal gain in many cases."
In an effort to address these issues, Cambodia's Social Affairs Ministry laid out and finalized guidelines for best practices in reintegration earlier this year and, according to the article, "thus far, roughly 500 children have completed the process." However, the article also highlights the need for the Ministry of Education to provide more appealing options for parents to prevent families from considering alternatives like orphanages.