Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports is undertaking a series of sweeping reforms across all levels of schooling with the objective of enhancing student performance. This initiative aligns with the directives laid out by Prime Minister Hun Manet and is a response to his four-point action plan for educational improvement.
The announcement came from Serey Chumneah, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, during the closing ceremony of the annual review meeting for the 2022-2023 school year, which also set the direction for the 2023-2024 school year for Banteay Meanchey province. This event took place on February 29, 2024.
Serey Chumneah outlined the four-pillar strategy aimed at elevating the quality of public education from kindergarten to secondary levels. The plan includes fortifying school governance, revising curricula and extracurricular activities to reinforce student knowledge, ethics, and discipline, enhancing child nutrition programs and school meal quality, and fostering state-community educational partnerships to encourage parental and community involvement.
Educators are urged to embrace their multifaceted roles as mentors, advisors, and technology and language savants to prepare students for future success. In addition, the Secretary of State emphasized the importance of creating a conducive learning environment, advocating for 'green schools' and active participation of youth in social activities, particularly through the Cambodian Children's Council and the Cambodian Youth Council.
Furthermore, the importance of health and hygiene was underscored, with calls for regular inspections of school food vendors to ensure adherence to health guidelines.
The conference served as a platform to reflect on past achievements and tackle challenges while forging new opportunities, particularly focusing on human resource development in line with strategic educational plans and the digital revolution.
Chhou Bunroeung, Director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports of Banteay Meanchey Province, provided a detailed report of the educational landscape, noting the presence of numerous educational institutions at various levels, including a significant number of private schools and higher education institutions, indicating a robust educational infrastructure ready for the impending reforms.