Education results shared at Southeast Asian meet

MINISTER of Education,Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron on December 1 attended a regional education conference to showcase Cambodia’s pre-school level and general knowledge education results.

Chuon Naron made the presentation during the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) online conference, which was also broadcasted on television nationally, including remote areas.

The conference’s main topic was to share and discuss national, regional and international pre-school and general knowledge education, at the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) level.

Chuon Naron said t he education ministr y had prepared policy measures in response to t he result of SEA-PLM on “strengthening training programmes and training teachers”.

“There is a focus on the methods of teaching, reading and first-grade mathematics; promoting qualification and paths to careers of school principals and teachers, as well as strengthen evaluation mechanisms to increase their work performance.”

He added that the ministry had also expanded community pre-schools and increased their numbers, with the hope of upgrading some of them into state pre-school.

On the other hand, the ministry had strengthened the quality of training community pre-school teachers and provided learning tools.

The ministry strengthened the quality of education for Grade 1 children to reduce number of students repeating the same grade year. Nutritious foods was also delivered to poor communities to feed the Grade 1 students.

The hours of writing, reading short passages and essay in the primary level curriculum was also increased.

The ministry had prepared libraries on school campuses in line with set standards, as well as trained librarians in managing and using books, reading methods in libraries to promote reading activities outside classes among students.

Additionally, the ministry addressed the problems of hygiene and clean water at rural and remote schools.

SEAMEO said the results of the conference had provided meaningful information to understand the level of resources, practices and learning outcomes in basic education across Southeast Asian countries.

It said: “We hope this report, as well as further national and regional research, offers a new policy momentum among Southeast Asian countries and partners.”