Four secondary schools in Siem Reap province have been chosen for a pioneering STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiative titled "STEM Skills4Girls”.

The project has a clear purpose: to equip young women with the skills and knowledge required to access technology-related career avenues.

On August 18, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport announced that students from these schools – Aranya Rainsy, Hun Sen Rolous, Samdech Techo Hun Sen Chansa, and Keo Por – will experience the preliminary STEM curriculum. Expertise will be delivered by seasoned professionals from the tech industry, and there will also be chances for the students to participate in a game jam, or hackathon.

Earlier, on August 14, a collaborative effort between the ministry’s departments of Vocational Orientation and Information Technology (IT), UNICEF, and the Office of Innovation of Sweden saw the launch of a training course for the key personnel behind the "STEM Skills4Girls" project.

This course shared a goal similar to the project's: To prepare young Cambodian women with the requisite skills and insights to fill roles in the technology and gaming sectors.

According to the ministry, this training took place between August 14-18 at Aranya Rainsy Secondary School. A notable gathering attended the session including delegates from UNICEF; the ministry’s vocational orientation and IT departments; district educational office representatives; administrative and teaching staff from the target schools; as well as students and teachers from Samdech Hun Sen Peam Chi Kang High School located in Kampong Cham province’s Kang Meas district.

“The primary emphasis of this training centred on STEM and gaming education. We actively sought contributions from educators to aid in crafting the STEM curriculum,” said the ministry in a statement.