"We Go Slow"
Monday, July 21, 2008 - by seiha
"I am concerned about my future because I feel I don‘t receive a real education," says Peoun Chamnan, a sophomore at the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) and a future veterinarian.
"Our tutors explain the theory to us, but we have no chance to put it into practice. Without practice, how can I know which medicine to give or how to inject an animal? Even if we have the chance to go into the laboratory, it usually lacks sufficient instruments."
Mech Rachny says, "when we are not sure, we can ask the teachers and they explain in detail." She is a third year chemistry-student at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and thinks her instructors are adequately qualified. "They all teach regularly
and only miss with good reason. Of course, we also have to do research ourselves".
Mr. Rong Chun, president of the Independent Teachers‘Association says, "When the government acts contrary to its promise to improve education, the quality of education declines. This hurts the economy."
"The quality of education at my university is improving,” claims Mr. Pon Chhay, head of the study office at the Royal University
of Phnom Penh (RUPP). He says that so far the RUPP is the only Cambodian school
whose quality was recognized by the Asian University Network (AUN). "The rating takes
into consideration the quality of teaching, the learning program, class attendance, the school‘s atmosphere and the environment with sport yards and clean food stalls. Educational quality was also assessed through student‘s success in finding employment.
"If students are not able to get jobs, then education has no quality. Naturally, students also have to make an effort to find a job."
Low salaries however, remain a major obstacle for people like Mr. Pon Chhay, who wants to improve quality. "Public schools have a small budget. If the school can open private classes, then with the extra income it will build up gradually."
"Quality is improving slowly. We have to persevere," says his
Excellency Chom Kemeng, advisor to the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS).
"We are improving the quality of primary-schools and highschools.
There is a development plan up to 2017. The main obstacles to rapid improvement
are poor teaching, lack of human resources, weak administration and corruption." He
points out that low salaries also have an impact. "But this is also true for other ministries.
When people lack money, they cannot complete their work, and corruption rises." The Author: Thol Buntha
