Cambodia is testing a new model for top science students at three schools in a bid to further improve education across the country.

Dubbed “New Generation School”, the program is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Kampuchean Action For Primary Education group, and seeks to raise the standard of classes for high-flying students, particularly in the sciences.

Helping hand . . . a student helps her classmates with a lesson. Pha Lina

“The purpose is to improve teaching so that students are able to compete with those from other countries,”said Ou Som Elit, director of the Samdech Preah Reach Akek Mohasei Norodom Monineath Sihanouk (Oudong) Primary School.

“The New Generation School program focuses on several main subjects including science, technology, architecture and Mathematics,” he added.

The new model differs from current programs in four main ways:

- Two shifts every day from Monday to Saturday at seven hours per day.

- Each class is limited to between 30-35 students only.

- Enough teaching materials available for both students and teachers.

- Lessons include foreign language tutoring and computer literacy.

Cleaning up . . . good hygiene begins at primary school. Pha Lina

The three schools chosen of the campaign are Preah Sisowat High School in Phnom Penh, Angkor Ban Primary School in Kampong Cham and Samdech Preah Reach Akek Mohasei Norodom Monineath Sihanouk Primary School in Oudong, Kandal Province).

Plans are afoot to expand the program further afield as well.

Besides from the three schools above, the ministry will also integrate this program into other schools throughout the country as well.

The New Generation School model is the first academic program created in Cambodia by the Kampuchean Action For Primary Education group.