Information Communication Technology for Development in Cambodia?

Answer 1

Cambodia ICT4D National

Education Policy

Overview

Cambodia's information and communication technology (ICT) for education policy document was developed in keeping with its "Education for All" vision of ensuring all citizens equal access to basic quality education, and to prepare them to participate actively in Cambodia's reconstruction and integration into the knowledge-based global community. The policy was developed in consultation with national and international partners and places emphasis on the role of ICT in distance education, the training of professionals, non-formal education, and the quality of education at the upper-secondary and post-secondary levels, in recognition of the importance of ICT skills in a knowledgebase

society. The ICT in education policy focuses on four areas:

· The provision of ICT access for all students and teachers, and using ICT to reduce the digital divide between Cambodian schools and those in neighbouring countries;

· The function and role of ICT as a learning and teaching tool in education, and as an independent subject;

· The promotion of education for all, regardless of personal characteristics or location, through the integration of ICT with other communication mediums; and

· The use of ICT to raise the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of education management.

Policy Objectives

The goals of Cambodia's ICT in education policy are:

· To increase access of all citizens to both formal and non formal basic education, using ICT as a primary learning and teaching tool;

· To improve the quality of basic education and support lifelong and independent learning; and

· To ensure Cambodia's ability to complete in an interconnected world, by ensuring a workforce skilled in ICT is available for employment in a knowledge-based society.

Strategies

Education Indicators

ICT Use in Universities: ICT should be used to leverage the scarce human resource capacity of universities, and also connect learners to virtual learning resources around the world. A cyber campus consortium will be created to promote ICT use in teaching, learning, research, and administration; digitise Khmer language books and translate others into Khmer; and link to virtual universities elsewhere.

Cooperation and Partnership: Medium-term strategies include the promotion of cooperation between NGOs, national and international organisations, and individuals in order to build on opportunities for ICT development in education; and the building of partnerships with civil society and private organisations for the purpose of sharing ICT resources.

Relevant Links:

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS)

UNESCO Bangkok - ICT in Education: Cambodia

UNDP Cambodia

Digital Review 2005/6 Asia Pacific: .kh Cambodia

International Telecommunications Union - ICT Country Case

Study: Cambodia

IDRC: Community-Driven Universal Access Solutions in

Cambodia (cUAPc): Pilots to Policy Research