With the learning of reading and mathematics in the early grade necessary for children to succeed in their next levels, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and relevant partner organisations have launched a number of strategies.

Using reading and maths textbooks, instructional videos and other online courses as mechanisms, these strategies aim to promote early grade reading and mathematics in primary education.

This article focuses on the Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023 on the sub-sector of primary education, activities related to the promotion of reading and mathematics programmes at the primary level, the implementation of materials-based reading and mathematics packages at primary level, as well as the “Komar Rien Komar Cheh” – “child studies, child learns” – programme that supports and promotes reading and mathematics at the primary level.

The MoEYS Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023 sets out several priorities for the primary education sub-sector that focus on improving access to education, the completion of primary education for all children, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, and strengthening the quality of education through a comprehensive early grade learning programme.

This comprises literacy in Khmer, mathematics, subject-based mentoring and teacher qualifications.

The second objective is to “Improve the availability of quality inputs in primary education”.

To ensure the successful achievement of the objectives, strategies have been set out to:

1. Improve pre-service teacher qualifications and the deployment of teachers;

2. Strengthen the quality of training for primary teachers;

3. Improve the supply and utilisation of core textbooks and other teaching and learning materials;

4. Strengthen the implementation of internal, external and thematic inspections;

5. Strengthen the roles and responsibilities of district training and monitoring teams to monitor and evaluate the performance of school management committees, teachers and students using the results of inspections, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

The launch of these strategies focuses on the development of primary education, especially to improve the progress of early grade reading and mathematics programmes for teachers and students.

The Education Congress report on education, youth and sport performance in the academic year 2019-2020 and goals for the academic year 2020-2021 showed that the primary education sub-sector produced and distributed educational materials to school principals, teachers and students in certain targeted provinces.

These included teachers’ guidebooks, early grade Khmer language books and early grade mathematics books, as well as Grade 1 and Grade 2 reading and mathematics materials.

Capacity building

The primary education sub-sector worked in collaboration with the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam), UNESCO, VVOB, World Education, Save the Children Cambodia, Room to Read Cambodia, World Vision and other stakeholders.

MoEYS has also provided capacity building courses for teachers on teaching methods and the use of early grade reading and mathematics materials to make learning more effective.

In response to the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic and to motivate children to learn better in the context of the new normal, MoEYS worked with education development organisations and partners to produce more than 1,800 video clips.

These video clips on teaching Khmer literature and mathematics from Grade 1 to Grade 3 have been uploaded onto electronic devices as well as the official Ministry of Education Facebook page.

The Teacher Training Department and relevant partners, under the coordination of the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) sponsored by USAID, produced early grade reading material packages, while VVOB, sponsored by the STEPCam project through UNESCO, produced early grade mathematics material packages.

This was carried out with the guidance and support of MoEYS, the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport HE Dr Hang Chuon Naron and the early grade reading team of the Primary Education Department in collaboration with the Curriculum Development Department.

The early grade reading and mathematics materials have been designed to provide all stakeholders, especially first and second grade teachers, with a minimum package that can be used by all to be implemented and expanded across the country, improving the quality of education by increasing the learning outcomes of students, with all Cambodian children being able to read, write and do maths.

MoEYS has been implementing primary reading programmes in all primary schools in eight provinces – Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kep, Siem Reap, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey.

The Ministry of Education has also been implementing the first-grade mathematics material packages in Siem Reap, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces.

‘Komar Rien Komar Cheh’

Based on this, the produced documents include Khmer literature textbooks, reading and writing exercise books, short story books (45 titles) and mathematics exercise books for Grade 1 and Grade 2.

They also include guidebooks for Grade 1 and Grade 2 teachers, and preparation for reading and mathematics material packages into 12+2 and 12+4 teacher training programmes at teacher training centres.

On February 24, the Ministry of Education announced the official implementation of the “Komar Rien Komar Cheh” programme, which was established through the experience and participation of stakeholders based on the results of research studies at the primary education level.

The programme is also sponsored by USAID, the Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, UNICEF and NGOs.

The reading and mathematics material packages for primary schools in the “Komar Rien Komar Cheh” programme include teachers’ guidebooks and teaching and learning materials to teach Khmer literature and mathematics to Grade 1 and Grade 2 students.

To ensure the improvement of the quality of primary education as a whole, MoEYS plans to expand the implementation of the “Komar Rien Komar Cheh” programme to all primary schools and in teacher training programmes at primary teacher training institutions nationwide.

The Ministry of Education and education development partners have been working together to improve reading and mathematics at the primary level through the launch and dissemination of reading and mathematics material packages as well as other primary education programmes in the capital and provinces.

MoEYS strongly believes that better developing the skills of all Cambodian children, including those with disabilities, in Khmer literature and mathematics at the primary education level will provide a solid foundation to continue at further education levels.