Why is it that Cambodian students know definitions and numbers by heart but struggle to understand what they learn? Why do Cambodian employers claim that young recruits lack the ability to solve problems or work as a team? A recent study on the Cambodian labour market attributes a great part to poor teaching quality. Indeed, students merely read from textbooks or copy notes from the blackboard. This lack of activity in the average Cambodian classroom leads to low motivation and poor development of skills of students.
In Cambodia, each year hundreds of young students graduate from teacher training centres and become teachers at primary and lower secondary schools. VVOB in Cambodia strengthens these centres, and especially its teacher trainers. We support them in acquiring methodological skills aimed at stimulating critical and creative thinking. Teacher trainers also learn how to apply and transfer such skills to their students. This way student teachers will be able to involve pupils actively in class. An example of such learner-centred approach is the use of so-called “concept cartoons”. The cartoon-style drawings show different characters arguing about an everyday situation. They are designed to provoke discussion and to stimulate scientific thinking. Student teachers also get the chance to try out these methodologies during their practice teaching at primary and lower secondary practice schools.
The VVOB programme also provides teacher training centres with equipment for conducting science experiments or computers. But more importantly, it supports the development and educational resources that meet the local needs. This includes teacher training manuals, sample lessons, posters, as well as digital resources. Cambodian teacher trainers can find and share such resources on a website we designed for teachers. It goes without saying that the Ministry of Education is closely involved in all these activities. After all they are in charge of the planned nationwide expansion of the programme.
Jan Geusens
Programme Manager, VVOB Cambodia
Stefaan Vande Walle
Programme Coordinator SEAL RTTC, VVOB Cambodia
