Cambodia is ready to cooperate with regional countries to enforce the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work, and better cope with the foreseeable structural changes in the post-Covid-19 labour market, according to Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron on October 1.

Chuon Naron was addressing the virtual 5th ASEAN Plus Three Education Ministers Meeting (5th APT EMM), attended by the education ministers of the 10 ASEAN countries and their Chinese, South Korean and Japanese counterparts.

To manage Covid-related disruptions in the education sector, Chuon Naron said Cambodia has set up distance learning platforms intended to ensure pupils and teachers have access to full curriculums, and commissioned Covid-19 prevention committees to address the unique challenges facing each level of education.

Teachers are obliged to adopt the technology necessary for online learning, he said, adding that pupils in rural areas are encouraged to learn in small groups in their communities and get a hold of worksheets for self-study.

New educational television shows have been produced as resources, he said, adding that classrooms are being equipped with technology and other learning aids to help overcome some of the obstacles to teaching posed by the pandemic.

Chuon Naron applauded the successful implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2016-2020, saying that Cambodia looks forward to fulfilling the subsequent iteration for 2021-2025.