Plan International Cambodia (PIC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, has established over 340 community kindergartens in four target provinces over the past 12 years. Approximately 7,000 young children each year have benefited from attending the preschools.

Yi Kim Than, deputy country director of PIC, said on January 15 that in partnership with the ministry and the education departments in Tbong Khmum, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri and Siem Reap provinces, 342 kindergartens have been opened since 2012.

He noted that 34 additional learning centres were founded last year.

The country director said that through the joint effort, in addition to teaching children aged 3 to 5, the organisation also supports parenting education programmes which focus on how to care for young children and teach them ways that foster their cleverness and growth appropriate to their age.

“The early childhood development education support programme is extremely beneficial in contributing to the child’s intellectual development in line with their age. We have a curriculum designed to stimulate their cognitive development,” he explained.

Kim Than added that when young children enrol in the community kindergartens, they learn to use gestures, colour learning and images, which significantly aid in their mental development. The preparation is particularly crucial for their readiness to start Grade 1.

Education minister Hang Chuon Naron recently announced the implementation of guidelines for model kindergartens, focusing on five standards: Focusing on student learning outcomes, teaching and learning methods, community involvement, school operations and administration and institutional accountability.