On 28 July 2025, CDRI and Department of Policy (DoPo) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, co-organized a Validation Workshop on "Strengthening STEM Education in Cambodian Upper Secondary School: Investigating Teacher Competencies and Continuous Professional Development (CDP)" at Regional Teacher Training Center, Kampong Cham Province.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including school directors and teachers. The workshop helped our researchers to ratify the current strengths and gaps in integrated STEM teacher competencies and CPD programs in Cambodian upper secondary schools. Through research presentation and participant input, it validates preliminary findings of the research project and inform the next steps in advancing STEM education in Cambodia.

As part of the workshop, our researcher delivered a presentation on “STEM Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Implications in Cambodia.” The presentation highlighted key findings on current CPD practices among STEM teachers at the upper secondary level, with particular focus on the accessibility and equity of CPD opportunities. A lively and constructive discussion followed, during which school directors and teachers offered valuable insights that will help strengthen the preliminary findings. These contributions will inform the next steps in advancing STEM education reform in Cambodia.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants whose valuable insights and contributions were instrumental to the success of the workshop. Their engagement plays a vital role in the quality of research of STEM education in Cambodia. This activity is supported by the Australia Government through The Asia Foundation’s Ponlok Chomnes program in Cambodia.