Friday, 25 January 2008

Launching Ceremony of Textbook for Computer Use in Khmer and Inauguration of Low Cost Computing Research Laboratory for Education Under the Framework

Posted on 25 January 2008.

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 544

“Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, in collaboration with the Open Institute [a Cambodian Non-Government Organization] launched a program to use low cost [and low electricity consumption] computers under the framework of the Information Communication Technology [ICT] Development Master Plan on the afternoon of 22 January 2008 at the National Institute of Education, presided over by Mr. Im Sethy, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.

“The launch of a computer textbook in Khmer, and the inauguration of the use of low cost computers was conducted under the framework of the ICT development master plan, and as part of the Open School Program, developed in cooperation between the Ministry of Education and the Open Institute, with the goal to promote the quality of education in Cambodia through the use of ICT. The Open School :Program is a three stages project, which develops and applies the ICT Master Plan in Education.

“The first stage of the project is to provide computer training programs in Khmer at schools, Teacher Training Colleges, and other educational institutions. The second stage is to do research and prepare more details towards the elaboration of the ICT Master Plan in Education. The textbook about the use of computers in Khmer is a new reference textbook in Khmer for all schools, training institutions, and the administration of the Ministry of Education.

“Mr. Im Sethy said at the launch ceremony that it is important to have ICT integrated in education in Cambodia in the future.

“He went on to say that this achievement must reach all students in the educational system, in their own language which they understand clearly; it must be used consistently and systematically based on the carefully prepared steps in the Master Plan for ICT in Education.

“Mr. Im Sethy added, ‘No economic development can happen without a policy encouraging the use of technology in the national language, which the citizens can understand and use.’ He continued that more and more younger people absorb the use of new technologies; our children know how to use many modern technologies that we cannot use. This is the reason why we have to make sure that all students, not only those who live in cities, can get new knowledge and new technologies. Mr. Im Sethy said that the mainstreaming of new technologies must ensuree that all can understand it - the only way is the use of such technology in the Khmer language, putting ICT study programs, and providing appropriate ICT structures, into all schools by 2012.

“At that occasion, Mr. Im Sethy expressed also his gratitude to the Open Institute, to the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, to InWEnt [Capacity Building International, Germany], to UNESCO, and to other human resource development partners in line with the policy of the Royal Government of Cambodia.”

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1553, 24.1.2008

No comments: