Spanish Queen Sofía Pays a Visit to the National Institute of Education

Posted on 23 February 2008.

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 548

“During her visit to Cambodia, Queen Sofía of the Kingdom of Spain paid a visit to the National Institute of Education on the morning of 20 February 2008, visiting the workplace of the Open Schools Program, using communication and information technology, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the [Cambodian non-government organization] Open Institute, with support from the Spanish International Coopertion Agency for Development [Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo] for the Khmer Software Initiative KhmerOS.

“Mr. Kol Pheng, the Senior Minister and Minister of Education, who was present to welcome the Spanish Queen Sofía, explained that with the support from the Spanish International Coopertion Agency for Development and the Khmer Software Initiative KhmerOS, the Ministry of Education initiated the Open Schools Program, making free [Open Source] computer programs in the Khmer language available, for word processing, for Internet use including blogging, and many other computer programs. Currently, these programs are being introduced in all Teachers’ Training Colleges and in all high schools [that have computers] in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“The Senior Minister also stated that the Ministry of Education considers that the wide utilization of technology is a crucial element for the development of Cambodia, and this becomes possible as this technology can now be used in the national language. Moreover, the Ministry also considers that this system of education provides a vehicle for disseminating technological knowledge to people across the whole country at high speed.

“At this occasion, Mr. Kol Pheng presented to the Queen also an example of original ancient Khmer text inscribed on palm leaves.

“During the tour, Queen Sofía expressed her interest and her appreciation for the good cooperation, which had let also to the creation of a computer laboratory for low cost computers for the sector of education, something which before did not existe in Cambodia. She also talked to students of communication and information technology. These communication and information technology projects are promoted by the Khmer Software Initiative KhmerOS for the Open Schools Program, supported by the Spanish Coopertion Agency for Development, by UNECO, and by InWEnt [Capacity Building International Germany].”

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vo.16. #4521, 21.2.2008