
News
31 December 2024Towards Future-Ready Schools in Cambodia: Building Resilience and Ensuring Quality
Author: Dr CHEA Sathya, Research Fellow at CDRI's Centre for Educational Research and Innovation
Future-ready schools are initiatives designed to enhance student's learning experiences and empower them to thrive in an ever-changing world. Based on the Future Ready School Framework, future-ready schools emphasise a holistic approach, where the curriculum, instruction, and assessment are interconnected and aligned with 21st-century skills. This includes personalised learning experiences, effective use of technology, and the promotion of critical thinking and problem-solving. Successfully implementing these initiatives requires strong leadership, a commitment to professional development, robust technology infrastructure and innovative learning spaces, and strong community partnerships.
To foster high-quality, resilient, future-ready schools in Cambodia, the Department of Policy under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) collaborated with the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) to organise the 4th National Education Policy Forum to discuss this important issue. Several key aspects need to be highlighted and addressed, including school governance and leadership, continuous professional development for teachers, digital literacy, and parental and community engagement.
School Governance and Leadership
Effective school leadership is essential for enhancing education and improving students' learning experiences. The latest Global Education Monitoring report finds that good school leaders are second only to teachers for improving learning. Over a quarter of success in student learning is attributed to school leaders. To lead a future-ready school, leaders need a clear vision, a structured curriculum, and strong administrative support. Building trust among teachers, students, and parents through regular communication and community collaboration is also crucial. Furthermore, to prepare schools for the future, leaders should leverage technology and information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance communication, collaboration, and decision-making. Staying updated with the evolving educational landscape, both locally and globally, is important, which means self-reflection and lifelong learning are key. Strategic efforts are also needed to address issues such as dropout rates, repetition, low learning outcomes, gender inequalities in education, and financial challenges to ensure institutional sustainability.
Teacher Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
To prepare for future-ready schools, teachers need to embrace active learning approaches, such as collaborative, project-based, and inquiry-based learning. This requires a regular and tailored CPD programme. The cascade model, commonly used for CPD, is effective for training many teachers at once but often dilutes the content. Challenges in CPD include teachers feeling that they gain little from sessions and lack support afterwards. Some are also reluctant to participate due to other commitments.
To make CPD sustainable and attractive, it is vital to foster intrinsic motivation, empowering teachers to take charge of their learning. Linking CPD to career advancement can boost participation. Programs should align with teachers' career pathways, offering clear advancement opportunities and recognition. Encouraging online resources and self-directed learning is also key. Follow-up sessions with mentoring and coaching are essential to help teachers confidently apply new concepts.
Digital and ICT Literacy
Technology is vital for future-ready schools, but it presents both opportunities and challenges. While it enhances access to information and supports self-paced learning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, it also presents issues like age restrictions, the need for better digital skills, and the misuse of technology for entertainment rather than education. Many educators, particularly of the older generations, struggle with digital tools, and technology often aligns more with social media trends than educational needs, leading to misinformation.
To maximise the benefits of technology, MoEYS has implemented policies to enhance ICT in education. Their goals include equipping students with essential ICT skills, improving internet connectivity, and distributing digital devices in schools. MoEYS also emphasises technology in teacher training and professional development. Additionally, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) has introduced the EduTech Roadmap 2030, which focuses on improving learning outcomes, fostering digital literacy, and preparing Cambodian citizens for a technological future by 2030.
However, the success of these initiatives depends on effective implementation within schools. School directors, teachers, and students must be proficient in digital and technology literacy for these initiatives to succeed in schools. Effective management and control systems must be in place to ensure technology is used appropriately for educational purposes. Continuous support and training for educators, along with community involvement, are essential to maximise the benefits of technology in education.
Community and Parental Engagement
Community and parental engagement is a crucial aspect of future-ready schools. In Cambodia, the government actively encourages collective efforts to enhance the country’s education system. Approximately 70 schools nationwide are now implementing equity funds, inviting donations from anyone interested in contributing. This initiative provides substantial benefits to students, parents, teachers, and the community—schools receive much-needed support, students enjoy longer study hours to address educational gaps, parents can concentrate on their work without the burden of private schooling, and children remain focused on their studies rather than being distracted by leisure activities like playing on their phones.
Every primary school is encouraged to establish a School Management Committee (SMC) as a form of school-community collaboration, recruiting active members to enhance education. This committee should hold regular meetings with the school management and teachers to discuss progress, challenges and future plans. In addition, it's crucial to view the community as the true owner of the school, motivating parents and community members to take the lead in planning for school and learning improvements.
Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure that the plans and achievements of teachers and students are communicated widely. Transparency should be maintained by sharing results, achievements, and support received, allowing everyone to see progress and areas for improvement. Accountability plays a key role in fostering inclusivity and demonstrating results, which helps build trust in the community. Treating students well boosts their performance and strengthens the relationship between parents and teachers. When families feel valued and supported, they are more likely to support the school's initiatives. Strengthening our commitment to these principles will further strengthen the bond between the school and the community.
To achieve the purpose of building future-ready schools, the abovementioned elements need to work together to create a supportive and dynamic educational environment that prepares students and teachers for the fast-changing and challenging world of the future.