Working
with the Ministry of Education and the Research Triangle
Institute (RTI), USAID programs in education focus
on developing and testing a life-skills curriculum
for grades one through nine. The initiative
also involves instruction for trainers and other
teachers
in selected cluster schools in the use of this curriculum.
The
new curriculum is intended to provide the knowledge,
skills and values needed to participate in community
life, maintain good health and function effectively
in everyday life in Cambodia. The life-skills
curriculum also reinforces language, math, science
and critical thinking skills. The intent
is to ensure that students can effectively apply
these
skills to addressing problems faced at home, school
and within the community.
The
curriculum is also being designed to stress student-centered,
activity-based learning. Critical values
by subject and grade will be specified. As these
are relatively unfamiliar approaches to education
in Cambodia, curriculum development and teacher
training also requires greater understanding and
appreciation
of these approaches at all levels of the education
system.
The
second USAID's basic education initiative is focused
on inclusion for Cambodia's under-served populations.
In this case, the emphasis is on both access and
quality. Activities focus on three provinces, Kampong
Cham, Kratie and Mondulkiri. The program is implemented
by the NGO World Education, which has extensive
prior experience in working on education issues in
Cambodia.
Other partners include CARE and Kampuchea Action
for Primary Education (KAPE), a Kompong Cham based
NGO.
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