A group of students from Hun Sen Chumpouvorn General and Technical High School have innovated an intelligent, mobile phone-controlled vacuuming robot, hailed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport as a testament to students’ technical skills addressing market needs.

Shaped like a car and measuring 25cm in length, 13cm in width and 16cm in height, the robot, named “Smart Tile Cleaning Robot”, was developed as a joint project by four students at the school. 

Team leader Ly Hongmean explains that the robot, capable of vacuuming dust and mopping water from the floor and storing it within itself, can operate in tight spaces within a room or house.

Hongmean, along with three other 11th-grade teammates, was motivated to build the robot to assist in cleaning hard-to-reach areas and aid elderly people, who can control it remotely via smartphone. 

“This robot can help the elderly, especially those with back pain or difficulty mopping, by reaching under beds, tables or in other narrow spaces,” he says.

Creating the robot wasn’t straightforward; it involved extensive consultation, idea exchange, internet research and guidance from teachers. The team spent around five months developing the prototype and plans to continue its refinement. 

Hongmean expresses confidence that mastering such skills would enhance his job prospects, saying that “having a specific skill is better than none”.

According to Samsu Raktong, an electronics teacher, the school offers general education until grade 9, after which students can choose from three technical subjects – mechanics, electrical and electronics – beginning in grade 10.

He tells The Post that once students select one of the three specializations, they pursue it from grade 10 to 12. However, they also continue learning general subjects such as physics, mathematics and English literature.

Pupils specialising in electronics have practical materials to work with at the school. They form groups to brainstorm and propose projects to their teachers, who then assess their viability and potential for further research. 

“We ensure the proposed student projects align with their capabilities. The idea for the robot came about as the students noticed a lot of dust in the classroom,” said the teacher.

Raktong noted that the prototype, which connects via Bluetooth and is controlled through an app, has not yet been entered into any competitions and requires further development. 

He notes that the school has 12 classes across the three disciplines, each with around 60 students.

Plans for programme expansion

Education ministry spokesperson Khuon Vicheka explains to The Post that general and technical high schools offer both general education and technical training. 

She says students can choose from 12 majors, including electrical, electronics, mechanics, food processing, agronomy, animal husbandry, tourism, accounting, computers, digital media design, smart agriculture, and agriculture development.

Vicheka mentions that currently, there are 21 general and technical high schools across 19 capital-provinces in the country. She says the ministry plans to extend the programme to more provinces, with studies underway in Battambang and Pursat for potential expansion.

“This programme differs from New Generation Schools [NGSs], which are more autonomous in their studies. Besides following the standard curriculum, these schools also focus on STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] to enhance science education. NGSs implement innovative teaching methods to equip students with 21st-century skills,” she adds.

Vicheka notes that students from general and technical high schools receive considerable interest and support from the private sector. She says many secure internships or employment during or immediately after their grade 12 studies. 

“Upon completing grade 12, they have the option to pursue further professional or university education, similar to other youths, aligning with the market’s demand for skilled workers,” she adds.