The VVOB Education Program operated in Cambodia from 2008-2013 through its SEAL Program. The SEAL Program aimed to improve pre-service teacher training for science, environmental, and agricultural life skills education at Teacher Training Colleges. Specifically, the program worked to enhance the methodology and subject knowledge training for physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry. It targeted reforms at both the student teacher and teacher trainer levels across primary and secondary schools. Key results included developing new learner-centered teaching materials, establishing science labs and resource centers, and revising teacher training curricula.

1. VVOB Education Program
2008-2013
Visit Maria Instituut, Flanders
October 22, 2012

2. Outline presentation
1. VVOB in a Nutshell
2. Education in Cambodia
3. SEAL Programme

5. Education in Cambodia: background data
87% of children Only 35% of pupils
completes Low incomes, mostly starts with secondary
primary from small-scale education.(7) Only 13%
education(3) agricultural activities. completes it. (8)
16% of youth (ages Large differences in
17-22) had less quality and
accessibility More than 70% of
than 4 years of
between urban and population depends
schooling(1). Up to
rural areas on agriculture for
47% in remote 34% of children
survival
areas. start primary
education late (6)
Large classes.
28 % of Pupil:Teacher ratio
population lives Average life of 48 pupils in
from less than expectancy is 63 primary
1usd/day(2) years.(5) education(4).

6. Poverty in Cambodia
Low schooling
rate Lack of technical
skills
High drop-out rate in
basic education Low
salary
Insufficient Low quality of
household education
income to afford
Loss of
schooling
labour force
Low Lack of Lack of
relevance of methodological attention for
Informal costs skills & generic skills
education
materials

7. Education Structure in Cambodia
Universities & Colleges
24
Age 23
Higher Education
22
21
20
Teacher Training
19
18 Entrance Ex.
17 Upper Grade 12
16 Sec. Grade 11
15 Lower Sec. Grade 10
National 14 Grade 9
Exam 13 Grade 8
Basic Education
12 Grade 7
11 Grade 6 9+2
and
Primary Ed.
10 Grade 5
9 Grade 4 12 + 2
8 Grade 3
7 Grade 2
6 Grade 1
Kinderga
5 Class 3
rten
4 Class 2
3 Class 1

8. Teacher Training in Cambodia
Teacher training for primary
education 18 Provincial Teacher Training Colleges
(PTTC)
(2 years)
Teacher training for lower
secondary education 6 Regional Teacher Training Colleges
(RTTC)
(2 years)
Teacher training for upper
secondary education 1 National Institute of Education
(NIE)
(1 year)
Teacher training for technical
& vocational education 1 National Technical Training Institute
(1 jaar) (NTTI)

9. VVOB in Cambodia
Quality improvement of
education and training in
VVOB developing countries
2004 – 2009 2008 – 2013
Capacity
Building TTC
•Learner Centered •Education (SEAL)
Methodology
•Agriculture Extension (IMAGE)
•Math & Physics
•Open Resource Center
•School Health

10. SEAL Programme
SEAL = Science, Environmental & Agricultural Life skills
“Improvement of the pre-service teacher training for
Science education, and Environmental/Agricultural
Life skills at Teacher Training Colleges”

11. SEAL Programme
Improvement of Teacher Training
for Basic Education
Life skills Life Skills Science
(Environment) (Agriculture)
ICT

12. Geographical Focus
Siem Reap
Kandal

13. Science Component SEAL Programme
RTTC’s offer improved training on teaching methodology
and subject-specific knowledge for science
Physics
Biology
Earth science
Chemistry

14. Strategy
Pilot Phase
Mainstreaming Phase
Teacher Training Inst..

15. Target groups
Student Teachers Pupils at
at PTTCs/RTTCs primary schools/
lower sec schools
Teacher Trainers
at PTTCs/RTTCs
SEAL
Programme
MoEYS central level (TTD), donors, …

16. Results: Learning Materials

17. Results: Use of Student-Centred
Approaches

18. Result: Science Labs & Resource Centres

19. Result: Revised Curriculum

20. Questions?