Cambodia & Prime Minister : Quality of education, a pillar for Cambodia's development

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that the quality of education determines the quality of human resources and the country's development, speaking at the inauguration of the Cambodia Cyber University Network at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.

Samdech Thipadei said education must be proactive and have a long-term vision. Policies can only be successful if officials are strong, clear and proactive. Photo AKP

"The quality of human resources determines the quality and capacity of our country for sustainable development. The quality of education and training is a key factor in this, so we can say that the quality of education is crucial to ensure the development of our national competitiveness," the Prime Minister stressed.

In order to strengthen the education sector, especially the information technology sector, the Royal Government has implemented significant policies aimed at modernising the industry. This includes building digital citizens who can use technology and basic skills. Providing human resources with extensive knowledge in science, technology, journalism, telecommunications and innovation is essential for Cambodia's development.

On this occasion, Samdech Thipadei congratulated and supported the successful establishment of the Cambodia Cyber University Network at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. He praised the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the management, faculty and all staff of the Cambodia Cyber University Network. To date, 12 high schools have become members, developing both the digital infrastructure and the capacity of relevant officials to produce and manage content.

Recommendations

Hun Manet shared four recommendations to further promote the education sector in the digital age:

• Encourage the Cambodian Cyber University Network and the private sector to continue to improve the education system and develop new curricula, with a stronger focus on technology and digital skills, in the context of economic and social growth, climate change, labour market competition and globalisation.

• Urge the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, together with relevant ministries and institutions, both public and private, to effectively implement the policies outlined in the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035 and the Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 to maximise the benefits of digital transformation in Cambodia.

• Encourage all higher education institutions to strengthen cooperation with national and international educational institutions and research institutes for joint research, exchange of experiences and study visits to gain new knowledge and practical experience to improve the quality of education, training and research.

• Calls on the higher education institutions to continue to cooperate and improve the education and training sector by providing quality teaching services and consistent capacity development, focusing on the youth as the future successors and a strong pillar in achieving the vision of Cambodia 2050 as a high-income country.

H.E. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports

Commenting on the establishment of the CCUN, H.E. Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, said that the CCUN was established by 12 public and private higher education institutions with the aim of sharing the full use of infrastructure and academic resources among member universities, providing the ability to transfer student loans between member universities, and offering open study for local and global scholars.

As of 2024, the members of CCUN have jointly produced teaching content for 69 subjects for 18 specialised undergraduate programmes for a total of more than 5,000 students, he pointed out.

The 12 member universities include the Institute of Technology of Cambodia, the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the National University of Battambang, Svay Rieng University, Heng Samrin-Thbong Khmum University, the Royal University of Agriculture, the National University of Management, Chea Sim Kamchay Mear University, Kratie University, the Battambang Institute of Pedagogy, Phnom Penh International University and Angkor University.

AKP