In recent years, the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MOEYS) has undertaken a reform process focused on developing a sector-wide approach to education. Part of this process includes the revision of primary and secondary school curricula.

In 2005, the MOEYS released their Policy and Strategies on ICT in Education in Cambodia. In this document, they listed three main goals, namely: (1) Increased access to basic education for all, both formal and nonformal, using ICT as one of the major tools for learning, teaching, searching and sharinginformation; (2) Improved quality of basic education and promote independent and lifelong learning, especially for post-primary education; and (3) Availability of workforce with the ICT skills needed for
employment and use in a knowledge-based society, to ensure that Cambodia can compete and cooperate in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Ministry’s policy for ICT in education focuses on four main areas:

• Providing access to ICT tools for all educators and students.
• Emphasizing the role and function of ICT in
  education as a teaching and learning tool in different subjects,
  and as a subject by itself.
• Promoting education for all by utilizing radio, television,
  printed materials and other media.
• Emphasizing using ICT to increase productivity,
  efficiency and effectiveness of education management. 

Since 2000, the Government of Cambodia has taken several steps towards the development of a national ICT policy. On 23 August 2000, the government established the National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NIDA), with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen as chairman. The main responsibilities of NIDA are to:

• Formulate policies on information technology (IT) promotion and development.
• Oversee implementation of IT policies to ensure economic growth.
• Monitor and evaluate all IT-related projects in the country.

NIDA, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNESCO, organized the first national Information Technology Awareness Seminar in September 2001, which was attended by representatives from the national government, private sector, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and international institutions. The Prime Minister opened the seminar by presenting the six elements critical to a long-term vision for IT in Cambodia:

• Developing telecommunication infrastructures through liberalisation, strengthening the regulatory framework and competition
• Expanding Internet coverage by attracting private investment
• Standardising the Khmer language for computer use and improving English language abilities
• Increasing computer literacy by for example including it in the curriculum of every secondary school and university
• Ensuring the private sector participates in IT development for the purpose of transferring technology and technical skills
• Protecting intellectual capital and prevention of computer crimes

In February 2003, MOEYS, with support of the UNESCO office in Cambodia, held a roundtable to formulate policies and strategies on ICT use in education.

MoEYS is attempting to reduce the digital divide that exists in the different parts of the country by providing access to ICT for learning and communication to all regional and municipal/provincial teacher training institutions and then to schools across the country by 2015. This drive must be accompanied by the development of appropriate strategies, namely:

• Learning Needs Assessment and Curriculum Development.
• ICT Networking.
• Learning Resources, Research and Courseware.
• Teacher Development and Training.

Since 2003, MoEYS, showing commitment to promote ICT in education, has required all students in teacher colleges to attend at least 2 hours per week in ICT courses. The Ministry will continue to supply hardware and facilities for these colleges.

Under the project Establishing the Effective Use of ICTs in Education for All in Cambodia, in 2004 UNESCO Phnom Penh assisted the Government of Cambodia to draft their ICT policy. An ICT policy working group, comprising directors of various ministry education departments was formed and an ICT Policy Workshop, held on 8th April 2004, provided an opportunity for staff from different departments to liaise and discuss progress and future plans for using ICT. Input was collected from participants and was used to amend the draft Policy.

Further information:

• Policy and Strategies on ICT in Education in Cambodia, 2005; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Kingdom of Cambodia; http://www.moeys.gov.kh/en/education/ict/index.htm
• National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NIDA); www.nida.gov.kh

Related links:

• Speech by H.E. Dr Kol Pheng, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia; Phnom Penh, 20 August 2007 (PDF, 16KB)
• Next Generation of Teachers project
• ICT in Education Policy project