Friday, 26 September 2008

In Brief: Khmer literacy project launched

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Peter Olszewski
Thursday, 25 September 2008

Education-oriented NGO PEPY last week held its first Khmer Literacy Camp in Siem Reap province's Chanleas Dai village, prompted by the realisation that, while many students in PEPY and other programs are becoming literate and conversant in English, they can't read or write in their own language. The goal of the camp, said PEPY Managing Director Maryann Bylander, was to inspire students to read, using the Khmer books available in the library. The library, to which PEPY added 1,200 books last year, is a valuable resource, but many children at a low reading level are intimidated. Some of the literate kids are encouraged to advance beyond just reading and are creating computer programs to help their younger peers learn to read and write Khmer. Using Scratch, an innovative MIT-developed software on low-cost XO computers from the ‘One Laptop Per Child' initiative, these students draw characters, create animation and design simple games to help teach less-advanced students.

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