On 11 June 2021, 380 teacher educators and Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) staff across 16 provinces gained access to new tablets with free SIMS and mobile Internet data as part of a public-private partnership between Cellcard, MoEYS and UNESCO.

These provinces are targeted under UNESCO’s Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam) funded by the Global Partnership for Education and the Capacity Development for Education Programme (CapED).

Under STEPCam, MoEYS is strengthening the overall quality of education by enhancing the competencies of teachers and teacher educators in Cambodia. This includes upgrading the qualification of teacher educators at 16 Provincial Teacher Training Centres (PTTCs) in Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kratie, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng and Takeo.

STEPCam has partnered with MoEYS’s Phnom Penh Teacher Education College (PTEC) to upgrade the qualification of PTTC teacher educators through a specialized Bachelor of Education (BEd) programme.

Since the inception of the programme, 68 PTTC teacher educators have already successfully completed the first year face-to-face learning. In addition, MoEYS in partnership with STEPCam is developing additional blended In-Service Training (INSET) modules based on the results of a training needs assessment conducted last year.

The important progress made to support PTTCs, however, was interrupted due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia. In order to support teacher educators in continuing their work during PTTC closures and prepare them to begin their blended INSET modules, with an agreement from MoEYS, UNESCO procured 380 tablets and collaborated with Cellcard to equip them with free SIMs and Internet data. The tablets will be distributed to the designated PTTC teacher educators and mentors, as well as PTTC management staff, and MoEYS supervisors.

The provision of these tablets is an important part of furthering MoEYS’s goal of enhancing digital education in Cambodia. With Cellcard’s timely assistance, the teacher educators and MoEYS staff will gain familiarity on how to use these tablets and manage their work and teaching online – increasing their digital literacy.

About STEPCam

Launched in 2018 with financial support from GPE and CapED, UNESCO’s STEPCam aims to strengthen the foundation for the overall quality of education by enhancing the competencies of Cambodian teachers. STEPCam does this through the establishment of a Continuous Professional Development system for teachers, school directors and teacher educators; supporting teachers inside the classrooms with effective in-service training methodology in early grade reading and mathematics accompanied by continuous school based mentoring; upgrading the qualification and competencies of teacher educators at the Provincial Teacher Training Centres (PTTC); and improving their learning environment through renovation of 11 PTTCs across the country.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Sopha ANG, National Project Officer, STEPCam: s.ang@unesco.org or Tel: 012 982 117.

Mr. Penglong NGOR, Director of Teacher Training Department, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport: ngorpenglong@gmail.com or Tel: 077 982 983.