COERR Language Skills Center (COERR) was founded by the Catholic Office for Emergency, Relief, and Refugees (COERR) of Thailand in March 1994. The building was constructed on land donated by the Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sports. Qualified teachers—both Khmers and expatriates, necessary furniture, and supplies were provided by COERR. The Center initially had ten instructors: six expatriates and four Khmers teaching English language free of charge to 20 classes from level 1 to level 3.The admission was restricted to only government officials.
On January 16, 1999, COERR terminated its project, and transferred the Center to the Royal Government of Cambodia, and the Center was renamed: Battambang Language Skills Center (BLSC). According to the Term of Transfer, the Center became an English Language Training Center of the Provincial department of Education of Battambang province. All Khmer staff was allowed to continue their work in the Center.
Because the Provincial Department of Education could not afford to pay non-government employed teachers, support staff, and the costs of the Center operation, the Ministry of Education, and COERR signed the Term of Transfer allowing the Center to charge the students a reasonable fee. The fee income should be sufficient for all the expenditures which include staff’s salaries, operation costs, and maintenance of the Center. Presently, BLSC—located in the new compound of Department of Education, Youth and Sport (DoEYS) is a self-financed public institution under DoEYS authority.
The new branch near Ta Dambang Kronhoung traffic circle which was opened in July 2008 and was named “COERR Language Skills Center” again is a private branch of BLSC. COERRs and BLSC are operated on the funds from the student fees and provided with professional assistance by the Sisters of Saint Francis, Rochester, MN. At the present time, BLSC program is designed for learners from the age of 12-16, and COERR 1 and COERR 2 are for learners from the age of 6 and above. COERR 2 Campus was opened in 2013.