Cambodia's future is being molded in classrooms across the country through the national Komar Rien Komar Cheh programme. With support from the USAID Inclusive Primary Education Activity (IPEA), Takeo recently became the latest province to join the national scale-up and receive the project’s benefits.

Early grade education is setting the stage for young learners to excel, planting the seeds of knowledge that will grow into a bright future. IPEA is dedicated to supporting the programme in enhancing the quality of early grade education for all children, including those with disabilities.

Collaboration for national scale

IPEA’s collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and various partners aims to scale the initiative nationally. This ambitious goal is not merely about reaching more children; it is about embedding best practices into the fabric of Cambodia’s educational system.

By working together with local education authorities, IPEA ensures that the interventions are sustainable and tailored to the specific needs of Cambodian early grade students. The programme includes harmonised reading materials developed by USAID for national use and capacity-building for educators in utilising the curriculum package.

“On behalf of the American people, USAID has supported early grade reading in Cambodia for almost a decade,” USAID mission director Kerry Pelzman said.

“We take great satisfaction in knowing that the education ministry will dedicate resources from the Global Partnership for Education and other stakeholders to nationally roll out the inclusive learning programme known as Komar Rein Komar Cheh. This commitment holds so much promise for literacy in Cambodia. We look forward to learning together,” she added.

Significant gains in early grade reading proficiency

The impact of the programme is evident. Recent findings from a USAID-supported, mid-term Early Grade Reading Assessment revealed significant progress among Grade 3. In just one year, students in schools that implemented the initiative improved their reading speed from an average of 32 to 50 words per minute, while their comprehension scores nearly doubled from 32 to 57 per cent.

“The doubling of students’ reading comprehension in all primary schools in Kampong Chhnang province after implementing our Grade 3 reading package shows our commitment to boosting educational achievement across Cambodia,” stated education minister Hang Chuon Naron.

Empowering teachers and reaching students

Teachers are at the heart of the educational experience. Recognising this, IPEA places a strong emphasis on teacher training and development. By equipping teachers with innovative pedagogical techniques and a solid understanding of inclusive education, the programme ensures that educators are not just instructors but also advocates for every student’s right to learn.

With USAID funding support, approximately 6,400 teachers have been trained on the complete set of reading materials for Grade 1 and Grade 2. Additionally, a package for Grade 3 has recently been endorsed for nationwide usage.

These trained teachers have implemented the Khmer literacy programme and new teaching methods impacting over 204,000 students. To date, in partnership with the ministry and other donors, the USAID-developed early grade reading programme reached 5,873 primary schools, benefiting approximately 21,000 teachers and more than 850,000 students in all public primary schools in 22 of the total 25 Cambodian provinces – roughly 80 per cent of Cambodia’s public primary schools.

A holistic approach to education

IPEA employs a holistic approach to early grade education by integrating mentoring and school-based management support, acknowledging that effective education extends beyond the classroom.

Through mentoring, teachers receive crucial guidance and resources to refine their instructional practices, creating an environment where educators can continually improve their skills. In collaboration with the ministry and development partners with the support from IPEA, 3,277 professional mentors have been recruited and trained in 15 provinces.

At the same time, school-based management support empowers local schools to manage their own educational processes, fostering solutions tailored to the specific needs of their students. Since 2021, IPEA has been actively involved in developing, testing and implementing the initiative in Kampong Chhnang. Currently, 1,093 School Management Committees and 7,905 Classroom Management Committees have been established through elections in 1094 primary schools in Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.

Supporting inclusive education

A critical component of IPEA is its support to inclusive education. IPEA integrated inclusive education tenets into the development of teaching and learning materials and teacher training programmes to ensure all students, including those with disabilities, can benefit from the early grade reading initiative.

IPEA also provides specialised training for special education teachers, equipping them with the skills and tools, including adapted teaching and learning materials for Khmer sign language, necessary to support students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Looking ahead: Continued support and expansion

The USAID-funded IPEA lays the groundwork for a more inclusive and equitable learning environment by increasing access to quality teaching and learning materials, empowering teachers, supporting inclusive education initiatives, fostering mentoring and school-based management and encouraging community participation.

IPEA also uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) through its early grade learning packages in public schools to promote inclusivity in classrooms. To date, nearly 48,000 students have benefitted from UDL practices in their classrooms.

By addressing the needs of every student, especially those often left behind, the ripples of IPEA’s impact will be felt for generations, proving that investing in every early grade learner leads to a stronger, more equitable society.

USAID Inclusive Primary Education Activity