Over 300 students in the child heritage education program visited Angkor Thom on November 11. ANA
The Angkor Heritage Education Program (AHEP), in collaboration with the APSARA National Authority (ANA) and the Khmer Cultural Heritage Organization (KCHO), has greatly enhanced students’ understanding of the protection, care and preservation of Cambodian artifacts.
The initiative, which began in 2018, targets both high and primary school students, particularly those from the Angkor area.
Un Monita, executive director of the KCHO, explained that the program me forms a vital foundation for classroom learning, complemented by visits to actual sites of historical significance in the Angkor area. These sites include temples, research and excavation locations, as well as museums where artifacts are displayed.
He said that selected schools participating in the AHEP visit Angkor Thom twice a year, and the museum once. Over 300 primary school students and approximately 55 high school students have benefited from the programme.
Monita emphasised the increased awareness and understanding of national heritage preservation among students following their involvement in the program, a significant shift from their prior reliance on oral traditions.
The group shared plans for expanding the educational initiative to other provinces with ancient Khmer temples, aiming to deepen children’s understanding of their heritage across a broader region.
The ANA reported on November 11 that a group of 185 fifth and sixth-grade students from Krabei Riel Primary School visited the Bayon Temple in the old capital of Angkor Thom.
The visit, part of the Heritage Education Program, aimed to educate children living near Angkor about the civilization’s history and the structure of Angkor Thom, and included activities like painting as part of a life skills education program.
The initiative highlights the real-world application of protection, conservation, management and sustainable development in the Angkor region.
Long Kosal, deputy director-general and spokesperson for the ANA, noted the importance of integrating school curriculums with heritage education programmes.
He sees these efforts as crucial in building a brighter future and developing human resources committed to protecting and preserving national heritage.
