Students at Wat Bo Primary School, one of the model schools. WBPS
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has rolled out new standards for model kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, aiming to enhance the quality of education.
In its December 28 statement, the ministry emphasised the need for implementing “model school standards” across all educational levels. These standards focus on student performance, teaching and learning effectiveness, community participation, operational school management and institutional accountability.
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“We’ve established standards from kindergarten to secondary school so as to strengthen the quality of schools and propel public education forward across Cambodia,” it said.
Minister Hang Chuon Naron recently outlined four key measures to reinforce the quality of state schools. These initiatives include strengthening school governance, revising curricula and tailoring extracurricular activities to foster knowledge, discipline, ethics and positive student behaviour.
“We’re focusing on keeping students healthy with our child nutrition programme and ensuring the quality of food on school grounds. We’re also inviting parents, caregivers and communities to team up with us under the slogan ‘State-Community Partnership for Education’,” he said.
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Chuon Naron noted that the ministry is not only focused on the current initiatives but has also outlined four additional priorities: Embracing digital education, creating a Centre of Excellence within higher education institutions, fortifying systems and capacity development, and championing physical education and sports.
Kong Samneang, head of the Federation of Education Services in Cambodia, said on December 31 that the ministry’s initiation of standards signalled a positive development. Historically, he added, Cambodia’s educational system lacked such standards.
He continued that this model standard is all about making sure education, from kindergarten to secondary school, produces excellent results.
“Establishing these standards was an encouraging move. The national level has rolled out these standards to the sub-national level for implementation. We believe the quality of education is in good shape at the sub-national level,” he said.
