Participants of the special education training hosted by the education ministry on October 17. MOEYS
Educational specialists in Cambodia have offered their endorsement to a Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport special education workshop. The conference aims to enhance the skills of the Kingdom’s teachers who are responsible for instructing students with visual or hearing impairments.
The October 17-21 forum is being attended by 134 educators from six special education primary and high schools in Phnom Penh, as well as Kampong Cham, Battambang and Siem Reap provinces. Notably, 14 attendees are themselves living with disabilities.
Instruction has been tailored to the distinct needs of hearing and visually impaired students, and includes sessions which focus on Cambodian Sign Language (CBDSL) and the Braille alphabet.
Kong Samneang, head of the Federation of Education Services in Cambodia, commended the workshop on October 18, describing it as extremely beneficial that individuals with disabilities were receiving extra support from the education ministry. He encouraged the ministry to provide further assistance.
“It is praiseworthy that the government offers teacher training, the provision of effective educational resources and ensures fair remuneration,” he said.
“If feasible, the ministry should consider extending the training to encompass special education institutions in both urban and provincial areas. This is particularly vital for those catering to children on the autism spectrum, as these programmes are yet to see significant development,” he added.
In a social media post, ministry secretary of state Serei Chumneas explained that the objective of the workshop was to enhance the skills of special education teachers, thus nurturing the human resources needed to support children with special needs.
He highlighted the consistent progress of the quality of the Kingdom’s education system in recent years, noting the growing emphasis on the right to education for disabled children, and the acceptance of a shared responsibility for all.
“The government has consistently maintained its commitment to realising sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on ensuring inclusive, equal and high-quality education. It champions lifelong learning for all and has successfully granted children with special needs the fundamental right to education. Therefore, it is essential that special education teachers have ongoing access to professional development opportunities,” he said.
