The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Constitutional Council have agreed to incorporate 40 articles of the Constitution into the school curriculum from grade 1 to 12. The inclusion of the articles was debated over the previous four years.
The announcement was made at the March 16 signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the launch of the training of trainer (ToT) course to more than 100 educators from across the country.
The 40 articles will be incorporated into the subjects of civics, social studies and social sciences in state primary and secondary education programmes.
Im Chhun Lim, president of the Constitutional Council, said the inclusion is necessary to mainstream knowledge of the importance and value of the Constitution, the supreme law of the Kingdom.
He considered that a clear understanding of the fundamental provisions of the country’s Constitution will strengthen the nationalist spirit that everyone must abide by, and will serve as an essential foundation for the Kingdom.
“Awareness of the major principles stated in the Constitution will strengthen patriotism and a social conscience among students,” he said.
Education minister Hang Chuon Naron said the decision to officially integrate the Constitution was made following careful studies. A textbook was drawn up to support the Kingdom’s teachers.
“This is an evolution of an agreement between the Constitutional Council and the education ministry. I am confident that the training course we have prepared will provide teachers with the latest knowledge to train other teachers and their students. This is a significant part of educational reforms,” he said.
“The curriculum will be implemented nationwide from 2024 after the successful training of teachers across the country,” he added.
Constitutional Council spokesman Prohm Vichet Akhara said the next training will begin in April.
“The Constitution is the supreme law of the country that covers all areas of our legal landscape. The leaders and working groups of the two institutions have studied the necessary curriculum provisions in detail,” he said.
