Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron addresses the launch of the second phase of the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam) on August 7 in Phnom Penh. Education ministry
Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron reiterated that teachers are the cornerstone of Cambodia's education system and that reforming their training is a key objective.
“Teacher reform and the implementation of teacher policies remain the top priorities for Cambodia because [they] are the backbone of [our] education system,” he said at the launch of the second phase of the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam) on August 7 in Phnom Penh.
The minister thanked UNESCO, the programme implementation agency, and the ministry’s officials for their efforts to implement the initiative to improve the capacity of educators and respond to the ministry's goals.
Chuon Naron said that the government had determined the importance of teachers as a necessary factor for students' academic results.
UNESCO representative in Cambodia Sardar Umar Alam said at the event that the organisation would continue to be a leading partner with the ministry in supporting the common vision to promote teacher training, innovative instruction, classroom learning and teachers’ professional development and advancement.
He said that UNESCO will continue to promote digital transformation and build an inclusive and equitable education system to ensure that all children receive a quality education and have the opportunity to develop their full potential.
The second phase of STEPCam was organised after the conclusion of the first phase, which lasted for five years from 2018 to 2022.
The ministry stated that there continues to be good cooperation between the ministry and UNESCO.
“Significant achievements in the first phase include the regular adoption of frameworks and systems for professional development, the training of more than 4,000 teachers and specialty officials on the first-grade reading package, the training of over 3,000 first-grade math teachers and staff, and the renovation and equipping of pedagogical schools in 11 provinces,” it said.
It noted the second stage of the initiative consists of four components including teacher education and ongoing professional development, a first-grade reading and math training package, assessment and expansion of the student record system and digital transformation for instructors’ education.
The ministry emphasised the importance of these areas in supporting teacher education, noting that the second phase will help advance Cambodia’s vision of becoming a high-income country by 2050.
It said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, has given priority to the sector by integrating the strengthening of education, sport, science and technology into the first phase of the Pentagonal Strategy to develop human resources for growth, employment, equity, efficiency and sustainability.
