Developing ICT Policy in Cambodia

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Developing ICT Policy in Cambodia

• Marilyn Jeffery
• UNV, Cambodia

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Effective Use of ICT in Education in Cambodia
Teacher training
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Effective Use of ICT in Education in Cambodia
E-Learning Bus
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Effective Use of ICT in Education in Cambodia
Computer donation
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Effective Use of ICT in Education in Cambodia
ICT policy development
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Education in Cambodia

• 1930s - first high school opened
• 1950s and 1960s - rapid expansion of primary and
  secondary education. Higher learning institutions
  - vocational, teacher-training colleges and
  universities established.
• 1970s - Khmer Rouge emphasised manual labour and
  political correctness over knowledge - "rice
  fields were books, and hoes were pencils."

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Education in Cambodia
Under the Khmer Rouge

• infrastructure for higher education such as
  books, buildings destroyed.
• An estimated 75 to 80 percent of Cambodian
  educators were killed, died of overwork, or left
  the country.
• At least half of the written material available
  in the Khmer language was destroyed.

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Education in Cambodia

• The slogan was "those who know more teach those
  who know less."
• Potential teachers trained for two weeks to one
  month and then assigned teaching jobs.

After the Khmer Rouge
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Education in Cambodia

• 2000

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Education in Cambodia
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ICT Policy - obstacles

• Decision-makers do not understand ICT
• ICT computers
• Most decision-makers think its too early so lack
  commitment
• Lack of information about ICT in education (in
  Khmer)
• People in Cambodia do not like reading
• Lack of motivation

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ICT Policy - obstacles

• Hierarchical society makes discussion and dissent
  difficult
• Different Ministry departments unused to working
  cooperatively
• People unused to analysis

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ICT Policy - obstacles
Comments at recent meeting of ICT Policy Working
Party

• We should all be ICT literate and all admin
  staff trained before any students are trained
• Most schools have no electricity so its too
  soon to be concerned with ICT policy
• Polarised views on readiness for ICT

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ICT Policy - stimuli

• Most educators eager to use new technology
• Some decision makers understand the benefits and
  limitations of ICT and are keen to have policy in
  place
• Support from some top leaders - e.g. recent
  donation of computers to teaching colleges by
  Prime Minister Hun Sen

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ICT Policy - help needed

• Expert in ICT from abroad to explain the
  importance of ICT OR
• Someone from a similar developing country who has
  recently developed policy
• Materials in Khmer
• Presentations
• Policies of other countries in the region
• Committed local decision-maker as focal point

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ICT Policy - help needed

• Already have
• Materials in Khmer
• Presentations
• Policies of other countries in the region
• Committed local decision-maker as focal point
• Still need
• People from outside to help facilitate discussion
• Willingness of decision-makers to read and
  discuss
• Input from local people with technical knowledge
• Input from those who decide budget

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