Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron told the seventh Commission of the National Assembly (NA) that despite the Covid-19 epidemic, which has presented many obstacles, the ministry is determined to move forward with its education reform plans in line with the government’s “Rectangular Strategy Phase 4” and the “New Generation” School Policy.
Chuon Naron made the announcement in a February 22 meeting with Hun Many – chairman of the NA’s Commission on Education, Youth, Sports, Religious Affairs, Culture and Tourism – held to review and monitor the progress of the implementation of strategic plans for education during and post-pandemic crisis.
The minister briefed Many on the response strategy of the education sector in the context of Covid-19, saying it would prioritise five activities.
First, the ministry would conduct reforms at all levels. Second, the new generation school programme would be implemented. The third activity scheduled was the rollout of new reading and math programmes at the elementary level. Its fourth activity would see it mobilising increased participation in digital education. Finally, it would extend the promotion of “digital learning for the 21st century”.
“Although the ministry has faced many challenges, it is committed to the third phase of reform plans.
We aim to improve human resource management through regular professional development and annual appraisals. Reformations of teacher training and results-oriented management will promote career pathways and job opportunities,” he said.
The meeting – the third official one scheduled between the ministry and the commission – was organised in accordance with Articles 94 of the Constitution and article 34 of the NA’s rules of procedure, which allow the commission to monitor the work of relevant ministries.
At a press conference on the outcome of the meeting, Chuon Naron outlined how the ministry prioritised its activities in accordance with the government’s vision of becoming a high-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. The reform programmes were aimed at transforming the economy from one based on labour to one based on knowledge, he said.
The commission lauded the outcomes of the meeting, adding that it would continue to monitor the implementation of the ministry’s new measures and would cooperate for the common benefit of improving the quality of education in Cambodia.
