The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and UNESCO officially inaugurated 11 newly upgraded provincial pedagogical/vocational teacher training centres on November 24 as part of the Cambodian Teacher Education Programme (STEPCam), which guarantees that every year 249 trainers of educators and 1,277 primary school teachers will receive enhanced job skill training.
According to the ministry’s press release, these pedagogical and vocational schools serve as training centres for primary school teachers in Cambodia and provide a favourable environment for teachers to strengthen their teaching skills through practice which it said is key to ensuring quality teaching.
The renovated provincial pedagogical and vocational schools are located in Banteay Meanchey, Kampot, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kratie, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Pursat, Stung Treng and Svay Rieng provinces.
Education minister Hang Chuon Naron and UNESCO representative to Cambodia Sardar Umar Alam presided over the inauguration ceremony in Kampot province.
Chuon Naron thanked UNESCO for its support repairing the 11 pedagogical schools and praised the efforts of Cambodian teachers in the past in the field of education. He said he hopes that the establishment of computer labs in these 11 schools will help the trainers and students access additional resources for their studies and that the programme will help develop Cambodia’s education sector further.
“Improving the qualifications of our trainers is a priority. We will implement new teaching methods to strengthen the capacity of teachers to teach science and technology classes as well. We will use this new teaching method to promote 21st century skills to Cambodian youths,” he said.
The press release added that the renovation of the 11 provincial pedagogical schools included infrastructure improvements such as new roofing for classrooms and dormitories as well as general facilities upgrades such as power supply generators and sewage connections.
It also said that study areas – including libraries, science labs and computer labs – have also been upgraded or constructed and high-speed internet connections have been installed.
A total of $3.4 million has been invested in the STEPCam programme to ensure the highest quality equipment and training at these pedagogical schools with a total of 111 classrooms and 258 dormitories fully renovated, according to the press release.
