COMPUTER LAB TRAINING PROJECT
Bridging the Digital Divide
Kamboo Project aims to equip teachers and students in Cambodia with the digital skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. Through targeted training and support, we strive to overcome the digital divide and promote development opportunities in rural communities.
Background
From STEM strategy and digital education to competitiveness
An essential factor for the growth and prosperity of a country is its human capital. This is closely linked to education in the so-called STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), as they provide the knowledge and skills that foster innovation and technological progress –– ultimately helping to bring about prosperity.
Data shows that in the academic year 2019/2020, only about 30% of students in Cambodia were enrolled in a STEM-related major (of which only 14% were female). It is therefore not surprising that Cambodia lacks the professionals needed for a modern, competitive economy.
In response to this issue, the Cambodian government launched a comprehensive STEM strategy in 2016 aimed at promoting STEM subjects in schools and universities and enhancing the overall digital literacy of the population. As part of that whole-of-government effort, initiatives like the Policy on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education and the Policy and Strategy on Information and Communication Technology in Education were launched.
Although Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a key role in bridging the digital divide, access to them remains severely limited in Cambodia, especially in rural areas. The extent of this issue became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic; the necessary transition to virtual learning revealed significant deficiencies both in technical equipment and in the digital skills of educators and students.
In order for the government’s STEM strategy to be successfully implemented in the medium term, a concerted effort is required from politicians, schools, institutions, NGOs and individuals. With the ICT training project, Kamboo Project is making an important contribution to supporting the country in overcoming the challenges in the area of ICT education and digital literacy.
Central Challenge
Despite the government’s efforts, Cambodia still faces significant challenges in the ICT sector. The main problems can be summarized as follows:
- Limited infrastructure: Cambodia’s underdeveloped infrastructure makes access to ICT services difficult, particularly in rural areas.
- Low broadband coverage: Although internet penetration has increased in recent years, most internet users in Cambodia continue to rely on slow and unreliable 2G connections.
- Lack of digital skills: A large proportion of the population does not have the digital skills necessary to fully use ICT services and participate in the digital economy.
- High cost of ICT services: Despite recent reductions in the cost of mobile phone services, ICT services in Cambodia are still relatively expensive compared to other countries in the region.
Kamboo Project helps overcome these barriers by providing training and resources for teachers and students in rural areas.
Objectives
Local digital competence should be strengthened as follows:
- Improve educators’ and school leaders’ knowledge of basic computer skills
- Enhance teaching and the quality of education in rural communities
- Equip students with the digital skills needed to thrive in the modern world
Implementation
- Launch the project with detailed objectives, guidelines, and clear tasks for all school teachers and principals
- Develop a master plan in collaboration with teachers, principals, and students
- Recruit 4th, 5th and 6th grade students for training
- Develop a comprehensive schedule for teachers and students, with courses held quarterly
- Evaluate teachers’ skills after one year of training to ensure progress
Budget
Budget
The funding goal per school is $550. This would cover the cost of a computer, an associated table and chair, and the instructor's salary.
The planned budget is structured as follows:
| Posts | Quantity | Price | Investments | Financing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | 1 | $250 | $250 | ||
| Chair and table | 1 | $125 | $125 | ||
| Electricity and maintenance | Self-financed by school/community | ||||
| Trainer/Salary | 1 | $175 | $175 | ||
| Total | $550 | ||||