A two-and-a-half month training entitled Heritage Conservation and Management is underway for 25 educators at the Apsara National Authority’s (ANA) Training Centre.

The training, meant to increase knowledge about Cambodian heritage and how to maintain it, is being performed by lecturer Barbara J Anello-Armani among other trainers and will finish on December 31.

“Twenty-five trainees are from the Centre for Khmer Studies and the National Authority for Preah Vihear. They are teachers at primary and secondary levels and educators working at museums in Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces,” the ANA said.

Anello-Armani said the training was organised by the Angkor Training Centre, the Centre for Khmer Studies and the National Authority for Preah Vihear.

She said the aim was to impart knowledge to teachers so that they will pass on a love of the country’s heritage to their students.

“It is also to enhance the English language skill of officials, the staff of the ANA and the staff of the National Authority for Preah Vihear so that they have the ability to communicate about work with international staff or experts in the mission of conserving and developing temples,” she said.

Mao Sengyan, one of the trainers, said the training participants will learn about the ANA’s roles and duties regarding sustainably conserving and developing Angkor Archaeological Park.

Sengyan said he hopes the training will spread love and pride for the country’s heritage.

ANA spokesman Long Kosal told The Post on October 27 that the ANA does not only restore and maintain temples, it also provides several training programmes.

“We regularly provide training. We have plans to take university students who study archaeology to gain experience from us. They can take part in actual work so that they can understand more widely about conserving culture,” he said.