The ICT Festival, hosted on July 17 at the Kandal Regional Teacher Training Center (RTTC), underscored the remarkable strides made in Cambodia’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education sector.
The event brought together over 100 talented students from ICT-leading schools across the country, along with 20 dedicated ICT educators, for a day filled with competition, collaboration and inspiration.
It was organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The festival aimed to highlight the growing importance of digital education in Cambodia while motivating both students and educators to continue their efforts toward ICT excellence.
“Witnessing the innovation and dedication of our young learners and educators was truly inspiring,” said education minister Hang Chuon Naron.
“These initiatives are crucial for equipping our students with the essential skills for the 21st century and for ensuring our teachers remain at the forefront of educational excellence,” he added.
The event served as a platform to promote best practices and showcase the innovative ways in which ICT is being taught across the nation.
Students participated in an exciting ICT contest, where they demonstrated their proficiency in various digital skills, while educators shared successful teaching strategies.
The highlight of the event was the enthusiastic response from students to an advanced coding programme, led by the ministry’s Department of Digital Technology (DDT).
“The ICT Award Festival and the subsequent professional development workshop are testament to our unwavering commitment to enhancing ICT education across Cambodia,” said Naron.
This programme has been lauded for its practical approach and ability to equip students with the essential coding skills needed for the digital era.
This festival, a key milestone in a broader ICT capacity-building initiative, was launched in 2021 by KOICA and MoEYS.
The initiative has made significant strides in establishing ICT labs in four RTTCs and 20 leading ICT schools, creating a dynamic, inclusive environment for digital learning across Cambodia.
The partnership has also focused on empowering teacher trainers to lead ICT education, with the development of nine official ICT textbooks tailored to Cambodian educators.
“KOICA is incredibly proud to partner with the ministry on this vital project,” said Moon Jung Choi, KOICA country director for Cambodia.
She said the enthusiasm and talent displayed at the ICT Award Festival, coupled with the dedication seen in the ongoing professional development workshop, truly highlighted Cambodia’s potential in the digital age.
“We are committed to supporting the sustainable growth of ICT education, empowering both students and teachers for a brighter future,” she added.
One of the standout achievements of this collaboration is the successful training of teacher trainers who now independently lead ICT education throughout the country.
These educators have contributed to the development of textbooks that were recently approved by the education ministry, further solidifying the foundation for quality ICT education in Cambodia.
Additionally, the project continues to support ongoing professional development for both teacher trainers and ICT educators, ensuring they stay up to date with the latest digital teaching techniques.
“Looking ahead, the project is set to host the third Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Workshop from July 21–25, in Phnom Penh,” noted KOICA.
“This session will bring together 23 teacher trainers and 10 ministry officials, with a focus on strengthening both ICT skills and pedagogical strategies to ensure the continued growth of ICT education across Cambodia,” it added.
