The workshop was attended by the principals of some 50 model schools on May 8. MoEYS
The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport conducted an orientation workshop on the “Model School Program Implementation Mechanism” for the management of 50 newly-built resource centres at model high schools across the Kingdom. The new mechanisms are intended to improve the quality and effectiveness of student learning, through the use of the centres.
The resource buildings were built by the ministry to link to four core science subjects: chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science. They are equipped with laboratories that will allow for practical experiments in all four subjects.
The workshop was made possible through the investment of the Second Upper Secondary Education Sector Development Program (USESDP-II).
An opening ceremony for the workshop, held at Kampong Cham Provincial Teacher Training Centre, was presided over by Nath Bunroeun, education ministry secretary of state and project director USESDP-II. It was attended by ministry leaders, senior officials, and principals of the 50 target high schools, as well as representatives of project advisors, including VSO and KAPE.
“The workshop was a step forward in improving implementation at the school level. School management and other stakeholders learned practical theory and received technical support that will assist them,” said a ministry press release.
Kampong Cham Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sport director Ly Meng San said on May 8 that the province is home to eight of the Kingdom’s 50 model schools.
“As a pilot, these high schools have been provided with improved resource buildings. The ministry is pushing for schools with these facilities to become ‘new generation’ schools,” he added.
He explained that the ministry had worked with the USESDP-II to invest in target schools to create models of educational excellence in every province.
“Orientation workshops on the most efficient use of these resources are crucial to ensure that they are effective at improving students’ learning outcomes,” he said.
“It is important to make sure that the principal is strong, and that he works alongside the education department to maintain the laboratories and classrooms that the project supplies,” he concluded.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the establishment of the model schools was part of much-needed reforms of the Kingdom’s secondary schools.
“The world is constantly evolving, and Cambodia needs to have realistic reforms that are modern and self contained,” he added.
He suggested that the education ministry respond to changes in the global context and incorporate new technologies into every school in the Kingdom.
“We support the introduction of laboratories at these model schools, as they can focus on both theory and practical learning; however, we would like to see these types of lessons become available to the general population,” he said.
