With virtual learning getting ever more creative in the Kingdom, some 400 videos have been produced by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Open Institute and Smart Axiata to assist Grade 12 students in continuing distance learning and prepare for the Bac II examinations later this year.

In a joint effort, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Open Institute and Smart Axiata Co Ltd last week rolled out of the “Smart 1,000 Grade 12 Video Collection” to help students continue distance learning and prepare for this year’s Bac II examinationsa.

The initiative is supported by the Smart Axiata $1 million Covid-19 Relief Fund and comes at critical time with schools yet to fully open across the Kingdom.

“As the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is further expanding virtual learning opportunities, Smart Axiata’s Relief Fund is a great assistance to our efforts in supporting Cambodia’s educational system through digital technology.

“The new initiative focuses on Grade 12, since students attending the last year of high school need to prepare for their final exams and later proceed with their university applications,” said HE Dr Hang Chuon Naron, the Minister of Education, Youth and Sport.

The “Smart 1,000 Grade 12 Video Collection” will be a great resource for this year’s 12th graders, and the digital library of online video content will also increase the ministry’s resilience in the future, said Smart Axiata in a statement.

The relief fund has added great value to the long-standing collaboration and partnership between Smart Axiata, the ministry and the Open Institute.

More than 400 videos have been produced so far, and with more being created for the collection, the ministry will begin launching them simultaneously in a structured manner.

The materials will be premiered on the ministry’s social media, including on its Facebook page and YouTube channels, as well as be broadcast on TVK2.

Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt said: “We want to ensure that the school closures won’t get in the way of Cambodian students’ education. Smart has always been committed to supporting the education sector in Cambodia.

“We believe in the power of partnerships and collaborations, thus Smart Axiata’s $1 million Covid-19 Relief Fund has been launched to support the efforts of the Cambodian government and to help communities impacted by the global public health crisis.”

The relief fund targets initiatives based on four focus areas – ICT for education, crisis management, social distancing and personal hygiene.

Partnerships between private and public entities are encouraged to submit proposals to the relief fund for up to $200,000 each.

Speaking at the event, Javier Sola, executive director of the Open Institute, said: “The financial support received from the fund enabled us to quickly put together two modern recording studios that are soundproofed and equipped with smartboards, audio equipment and high-definition cameras.

“With the two studios now operating at maximum efficiency, we are able to produce the amazing amount of 80 videos per week. A dedicated quality-assurance team works closely to guarantee that all recorded videos are up to the ministry’s standards and are acceptable for broadcast. We are very excited to work with exceptional teachers and a hardworking team to produce this video collection.”

In March, all schools were forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Seeing the urgent need to support Grade 12 students in preparing for their exams with distance-learning material, the Open Institute applied to the relief fund to run the initiative together with the Ministry of Education and Smart Axiata.