Cambodia Moves Toward More Computer Education in Provinces
Computer skills remain quite low for most Cambodians, and IT classes are mainly taught at universities, rather than in lower grades.
PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has done little to build an educational infrastructure for information technology and computing, despite its widespread use in the country. However, educators say IT education is improving across the country. Computer skills remain quite low for most Cambodians, and IT classes are mainly taught at universities, rather than in lower grades. That could change soon, however, as the Ministry of Education moves to offer classes in rural high schools. New curriculum is being developed for grades 11 and 12, though mainly in the provinces, Ros Salin, a spokesman for the ministry says. “In this new academic year, we have connected to some partners in order to make computer labs for use by students in the provinces,” he told VOA Khmer. In another program, telecomm company Mobitel is working with the ministry to create an online institution where high school students can take part in exercises or download lessons online. It is being tested at Sisowat High School. Other computer programming lessons are offered at the primary school level at private international schools, where the IT curriculum is generally more robust. Khieu Pit, vice principal for the Khmer education program at Zaman International school, said his program teaches both the ministry’s system and the international system, so that students understand the essentials of technology for research and other studies. For the most part, though, IT education is found mostly at colleges and universities in the country. That’s where students like Set Hattha, a freshman of Passerelles Numeriques Cambodia, first learn it. “I never knew what IT was until I got a scholarship to study IT,” she told VOA Khmer. “I think that from time to time IT is much updated so that both men and women should know it.” After living and studying in Phnom Penh almost one year, Set Hattha said she thinks most people use IT in their everyday lives, even if the don’t realize it. “People’s lives depend on technology,” she said. “Even studying, because knowledge from a teacher is not enough; we have to do research. If we don’t know technology, our study is not upgraded as well.” Dok Otdom, an IT teacher of Passerelles Numeriques Cambodia, said IT has developed quickly in Cambodia over the last five years, through phones and computers. “Now the technology system is much updated,” he said. That means Cambodia should work hard to strengthen the IT sector. Ros Salin agreed, saying Cambodia has not met the demands of Asean integration, slated for 2015. In order to compete in the region, Cambodians will need many skills, he said, including IT.