Friday, 28 November 2008

The Ministry of Education Is Facing a Shortage of Foreign Language and Information Technology Teachers - Thursday, 27.11.2008

Posted on 28 November 2008
The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 588

“Phnom Penh: School directors in Phnom Penh and in different provinces said that their schools are facing a shortage of foreign language and information technology teachers, important sectors to strengthen the quality of education.

“The Tuol Tumpung High School director, Mr. Chet Yam, said by telephone in the morning of 26 November 2008 that his high school is lacking English and French, and information technology teachers. Normally, students have to study French two hours, English five hours, and computer from two to three hours per week. He said that his school has 125 computers. But now there is a shortage of money to pay the electricity costs.

“He added that the teaching of English and French, and information technology, are part of the secondary education curriculum and of high school education.

“The Sisowath High School director, Mr. Seng Lim, made similar comments about the shortage of foreign language and information technology teachers, as his school lacks around five teachers. As for information technology teachers, there is a great need, because 60 classes have only one computer instructor.

“He went on to say that the teaching of information technology is for Grade 10 and for Grade 11 only.

“The Bak Tuk High School director, Mr. Sok Vanna, said that his school has nearly 10,000 students, but there are only two or three English and information technology teachers. He added that the training courses of the ministry for one intake have only between 20 and 30 technical teachers, and they have to be assigned all around the country; this is the root of the problem.

“He went on to say , ‘We live today in an era of technology, we have to do whatever we can to make our students know this sector better, so that they can catch up with the other students in the region.’

“Mr. Chum Cheng, the director of the office of teacher training recruitment and of the management of the department of vocation training and refresher courses, said that each year, the ministry trains 60 French teachers and 200 English teachers to be assigned to secondary schools and high schools countrywide.

“He continued, ‘The ministry asks the government every year to increase the number of teachers to be trained, but there is no response from the government.’

“Mr. Chum Cheng added the government provides money to train 5,000 teachers to be assigned from kindergartens up to higher education, and to be sports teachers, which has the least numbers compared with the actual needs. He continued to say that there are between 2,200 and 3,000 kindergarten and primary school teachers in training; there are from 1,700 to 2,000 secondary and high school teachers in training; as for teachers for teaching monks in training – there are 50, or there is none, according to the real needs.

“He continued to say, ‘Now, the primary level has difficulties, because we are training primary school teachers who have high school diplomas to become secondary school teachers.’

“The secretary-general of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, Mr. Koeur Naileang, said on the same day, while recognizing that the ministry does lack French and English, and information technology teachers, the ministry has encouraged schools to hire more teachers by providing wages according to the number of hours they teach.

“He pointed out, ‘It is because the training is late and there is a lack of resources for teachers, as those who teach foreign languages and computer cannot earn much money. Now, most high school teachers in training receive also computer training, so that they can help ease this problem when they become teachers.’

“The president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association, Mr. Rong Chhun, said on the same day that there is a severe shortage of language and information technology teachers, and even many teachers themselves have no knowledge about computers.

“Regarding solutions for this problem, Mr. Rong Chhun said, ‘The government must provide a section of the budget to train teachers in these skills, because today we live in an era of technology, and Cambodia has to follow the countries in the region.”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4753, 27.11.2008
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Thursday, 27 November 2008

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