Cambodia and Japan are set to inaugurate four new buildings at the Phnom Penh Teacher Education College, thanks to Japanese grant aid. The four new buildings – to be inaugurated on February 9 – include a library and administrative, academic and multi-purpose buildings.
According to a joint press release issued by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on February 8, Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth and Japanese ambassador Masahiro Mikami will preside over the inauguration ceremony.
The new buildings and other infrastructure were built under the umbrella of JICA’s project for Teacher Education Colleges.
The press release said this project aims to strengthen the function of teacher training centres in Phnom Penh and Battambang province, turning them into four-year degree-awarding colleges by expanding the facilities of their existing two-year degree teacher training centres.
“The project provided the equipment necessary to enhance the quality of teachers, thereby contributing to the improvement of the quality of education in primary and lower secondary schools,” it said.
Besides constructing the four new buildings, the project also provided equipment for a science lab, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) rooms, as well as art and music rooms – enhancing the available teaching and learning materials.
JICA’s support is not limited to facilities and equipment. JICA has also supported the education ministry by implementing the Technical Cooperation Project for Establishing Foundations for Teacher Education Colleges.
Through the project, four-year syllabi, teaching materials and exams for several subjects, the management system of the colleges, and the overarching strategy for teacher qualification upgrades have been developed.
The capacity of faculties, education research, and curriculum development have improved through the combination of the project itself and scholarship programmes to Japanese universities, said the press release.
Education ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha told The Post on February 8 that the construction of the four new buildings aims to further improve the quality of learning, teaching, and management of the centres.
