Tag - Education

Activities in the Previous Week

October 18, 2010

14/10/2010: Closing Ceremony of “Reporting for Radio Course”

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Today, we are celebrating the closing ceremony of our intensive course on Reporting for Radio in the presence of German Ambassador, DMC acting head, and our trainers, Thorsten Karg and Kyle James.

In the occasion, Dr. Wolfgang Moser, a German Ambassador, has encouraged us by saying that journalism is very important in democratic society and he also gives us some suggestions that we, as journalists, have to be aware of what we are doing, how far we can go, what to report and what not to report, and also need to take care for our sources of information.

Since I step into journalism field in late 2008, I have to admit that this is my first time to know about Reporting for Radio and I was very lucky to have participated in the one-month intensive course on this subject. It was also the luck to have two trainers from a Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, staying with us and guiding us throughout the workshop.

I started to know the differences between writing news for print media and writing news for radio broadcasting.

Making it Work

October 13, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Some wealthier students don’t need to worry about money while they’re studying at university. But most of us do. Although it would be great to forget about finances and give 100{0a5c1eeb84ccc7c2d601964b33dd4fc73dc6a68f91616e3e53041e90b1033ab3} of our time and effort to our studies for the 4 or 5 years that we are enrolled at university, it is not a reality for the majority of university students coming from middle class backgrounds who must continue to make money for themselves and their family.

Even if you have a scholarship, studying can be expensive when you consider the cost of books, transportation and other academic materials; however, it is not the cost of education, but rather the opportunity cost, that forces most students to find a job on the side. Most families in the Kingdom rely on their children to bring in an income when they reach working age. Therefore, university has two costs; the tuition fee and the lost income that would be made if the student were working instead.

For many students who see university as the only way to take an economic step up, the solution is finding a job to help support them through their studies. Balancing work and classes is a challenge that can leave students over-tired and unfocused in class, but it doesn’t have to. We talked to students, educators and career experts who explained how a part-time job can help students rather than hurt them on their way to professional success.

“Some people repeat that they don’t have time for a job,” said 22-year-old Ty Phearom, “but in fact they just don’t know how to use their time efficiently and wisely.” The senior at the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), who has been working as a part-time teacher at the Student Development Institute since his first year at university, said that his experience on the job gave him the additional benefit of being able to apply the theory he was learning in class in a practical setting while at work.

The importance of finding a job related to your course of studies was echoed by Chy Meath, a consultant at Aplus Consulting Company. He said that students who get professional experience relevant to their major will invariably improve their abilities and raise their chances of finding a job upon graduation. Even if students can’t find part-time work closely related to their studies, Chy Meath said that part-time work can provide a surprise professional spark. “Sometimes students will become interested in their part-time work and end up doing that when they graduate,” he said.

Last month Nhem Ratbothea, a 22-year-old sophomore in IT at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), decided to take a job as a waiter at Hotel Phnom Penh. Besides allowing him make money and cut down on his families expenses, he said his first job since leaving his hometown of Banteay Meanchey, although unrelated to his courses in IT, will have the added benefit of helping him improve his English language skills, which might prove important down the road.

According to Chy Meath, students tend to overemphasize the responsibilities of their part-time work altogether, overlooking the workplace environment of their prospective employer, which is just as important to a student’s sanity. “If you have fun and the co-workers are friendly and patient with good management, it will be beneficial,” explained Chy Meath. “If you go to work and your co-workers just shout and ignore each other, whether or not you are highly paid, it will have a negative effect on you.”

While the benefits of part-time work extend beyond the obvious increase in income, others are rightfully concerned about negative effects on student’s academics. If possible, Ngov Simrong, a mathematics teacher and also a chief of Academic Office at Norton University, suggests that families find a way to support their children through university so they can focus on their studies.

“When they have to work, they will become tired,” he said. “So when they are in class they aren’t focused on the teacher’s explanation, they just sit waiting for time to pass because they are so exhausted.” If the family has the financial ability, he advised that they “don’t allow their children to work while studying because they won’t reach their full potential.”

To make academics more manageable, some students alter their work schedule, or end it altogether, come crunch time. As an undergraduate, Sa Sokheang, who just graduated with an accounting degree from Vanda Institute, got a job as a salesperson at Snow Yogurt where, after proving herself, she got a promotion an became an accountant. While the work aligned with her academic interests, she said that being busy from early in the morning to 9 at night took a toll on her.

“Working part-time had an effect on my academic performance because sometimes I would come from work and find myself too tired to find time to study,” she said. With final exams approaching, Sa Sokheang was worried that she wouldn’t have time to prepare for she left her position at Snow Yogurt to ensure ample time for research and reading.

While educators agreed that juggling classes with a job presents a unique challenge, some are willing to cooperate with students to make arrangements that prevent significant sacrifices to their studies. Khan Chandy, an English teacher at IFL, mentioned one student who made a formal request to come to class 30 minutes late so he could fulfill his obligations at work and school, since he cared deeply about both. “His attitude in class was good and his scores remained among the top ten in the class,” the professor explained.

Vong Chorvy, a quality assurance officer at RUPP, said that getting a job is fine as long as academic focus students can maintain their academic focus. “It’s good for those who are studying and working, but they shouldn’t forget that studying is still most important,” he said. “Absorbing theoretical knowledge about their field of study is very important because later on, when students graduate, they have to apply it in order to succeed in that profession.”

by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 40 published on October 13, 2010

Home away from Home

September 15, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Cambodian Students who stay in dorm are playing football in front of their building in the evening / Photo by: Koam Tivea

You might want that noise to stop while you are studying or that light turned off when you are trying to sleep, but these are just the hassles you have to endure in a dormitory. Although living with a roommate in a dorm – and dealing with the unavoidable annoyances this entails – is a nearly universal experience for university students in many foreign countries, there is also a small group of Cambodian college kids living in close quarters at the Kingdom’s only state-run dormitory for university students.

After a few visits to the dorm, I decided that in order to get a true sense of dorm life, I needed to spend a night there myself. So last week I packed my bag and headed to the six-building dormitory campus on Russian Boulevard – neighbouring the Royal University of Phnom Penh – to get a taste of the parentless life.

In foreign countries, room and board (food and living accommodations), are usually part of tuition fees, but in Cambodia, dorms are free to some students from poor families and remote provinces and are reserved mostly for females (although my experience was mostly with young men for obvious reasons).

Cambodian Students who stay in dorm are playing football in front of their building in the evening / Photo by: Koam Tivea

Because of the noticeable lack of adults on the premises, you might expect security to be in short supply. But I felt at ease and well taken care of from the get go, and I witnessed a way of life that you’re not likely to see anywhere else.

The first lessons you are forced to learn are those of acceptance and cooperation. Many of us are used to having our own room and our own space to retreat to when we need some time alone, but you can say goodbye to these comforts as soon as you set down your bags.

San Kimleang, a 23-year-old woman from Kampong Thom province, said she used to be spoiled by her family, but has shed her sense of entitlement over the past three years. “We have to stay with our roommates for four years, so we need to find ways of living peacefully and it is critical to be tolerant of each other,” she said.

It’s easy to snap at siblings and take out your frustrations on family members, she explained, but while living with people outside her family, she often has to bite her tongue when she is angry or fed up with the behaviour of her dorm-mates.

Bou Sophal, who just moved into the dorm last year, knows all too well the challenges of communal living. “Sometimes people cause a disturbance, for example there will be a noise during when we want to study silently or our roommate needs light for studying while we are trying to fall asleep,” he said. “We have to be patient, tolerate and forgive. Today they unintentionally disturb us, but in the future we might do the same.”

While I could certainly understand their difficulties, having enjoyed my own quiet room for the past 20 years, I also saw how much the students cared for each other.

Students who stay in dorm are teaching each other in ther computer room / Photo by: Dara Saoyuth

Hou Vanthy, 19, said he feels lucky to live in the dorm because his parents, who are farmers with six other children, have little money to spare. As he has become acclimated to Phnom Penh over the past year, he has been able to ask for help from the young men he lives with. “If I don’t have the documents I need, I can ask from them, and I talk with them about their experiences so that I can prepare myself for problems that lie ahead,” he said. “I have never lacked advisers while I’ve been living here.”

I was a bit jealous when I saw a computer room in the building. I have a laptop but, unlike the guys at the dorm, I do not have access to free computer lessons on a regular basis.

More senior members of the dorm, such as Suon Sampheavin, a 22-year-old student in his fifth year of civil engineering studies, said that design programmes like AutoCAD are crucial for engineers, but most students living at the dorm can’t afford the relatively expensive fees of a typical computer class. “I teach AutoCAD on weekends, using what I know, so the other guys don’t have to spend money on classes outside. If I don’t help them, they will face difficulties in the future,” he said.

Students who stay in dorm are teaching each other in ther computer room / Photo by: Dara Saoyuth

I was happy to see that it wasn’t all work in the dorm. Barring rain, the self-sustaining students set aside some time in the evening to play football and badminton in the space outside of their dorm. Once they have worked up an appetite, they prepare dinner and, in the men’s dorm at least, pile in front of the TV to enjoy their food with the on-screen entertainment.

There is not a complete lack of adults – there is a health officer on site in case of an illness or emergency, and there is also not a complete lack of authority. Four buildings have adult managers, while two dorms have elected student managers to make sure things don’t get out of hand.

Ban Sam, who has been staying in the dorm since 2007, said that as the men’s manager he makes sure that students who enter the dorm follow the rules.

“Hanging around outside late is not allowed,” the 21-year-old said. “Gambling, drinking beer, or using drugs in the building is banned. For the safety of all students, bringing people from outside the dorm without asking for permission is not allowed,” he added, starting to sound like my parents.

This is a room in which Cambodia’s dorm-dwellers usually bring their meal to eat and enjoy watching TV together / Photo by: Koam Tivea

But just as I was thinking that dorm life signalled a release from chores, it only got worse. “Students have to live with cleanliness and hygiene; for example they have to clean their rooms and take turns cleaning the bathroom and toilet as it is used by everyone.” Ugh! The dorm really was starting to feel like home.

While the stories you hear about foreign dorms might sound more like anarchy than university, it seems that Cambodia’s dorm-dwellers are quite tame. While most of us have a family waiting for us when we finish our classes for the day, these students only have each other, and the way they support each other was nothing short of incredible. I was thankful for the openness and hospitality of my hosts, but happy to head home when I woke up in the morning.

by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 36, September 15, 2010

Cellphones help Cambodian students — to cheat

September 10, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, My intern

PHNOM PENH, Thursday 19 August 2010 (AFP) – Standing in front of a school in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, Than Vichea read out answers over his mobile telephone to his sister who was taking national exams inside.

He was not alone. Even the police deployed outside schools to stop relatives providing answers to the more than 100,000 students who sat the tests last month could not prevent cheating in many of the exam centres.

“What would happen if they fail?” asked Than Vichea. “We have to think about our expenses for schooling, part-time studies and fuel costs, and especially our time.”

Several students interviewed by AFP said they had bribed teachers to allow them to check notes they had smuggled into the exams, or answer sheets allegedly sold in advance by teachers outside the schools.

One said he had paid about 30 dollars to teachers during two and a half days of exams so they would turn a blind eye to cheating and keep watch for school inspectors.

Others said they had bribed teachers to allow them to use their mobiles to phone relatives for help during the exams, the results of which will be announced on August 20.

“Besides copying answers from each other, candidates in my room could even make a phone call outside during the exams to get answers,” said a female student who asked to remain anonymous.

“And when there was only one correct answer sheet, it was hard to pass from one to another. So those who use modern phones took a photo of that sheet and then sent it to each other via the Internet on their phones,” she said.

After decades of civil war and the mass killing of educated people and intellectuals by the communist Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s, Cambodia is trying to restore its educational system. But it is a slow process.

“Our country was severely destroyed during the Khmer Rouge, so, as a child, we have started rebuilding,” said Mak Vann, a senior official with the Ministry of Education.

“We have trained more teachers and up to now it’s still not enough. We still lack educational tools, and more teachers need to be trained as well.”

Cambodia’s schools were obliterated under Khmer Rouge rule. The regime killed nearly two million people — including many teachers — as it emptied cities in its bid to forge a Communist utopia.

School buildings, documents and other educational resources were destroyed.

More than three decades later, a lack of infrastructure, human resources and educational tools, as well as low wages for teachers, are hindering efforts to improve standards in schools.

Not all students interviewed said there had been cheating in their exam rooms.

“In my room, it was very strict. We could not even look at each other during the exams. No cellphones were allowed,” said one, Bun Keo Voleak.

But the apparent acceptance of bribes by many teachers reflects rampant corruption in general in Cambodia that is seen by many as a growing barrier to quality in human resources for the Southeast Asian nation.

Cheating and paying bribes are common during exams, but Rong Chhun, head of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said the problem appeared to have worsened this year.

“Weakness in the educational system cannot help our country to develop,” he said.

Cambodia was ranked 158th out of 180 countries in anti-graft organisation Transparency International’s index of perceived public sector corruption in 2009.

It was also ranked the second most corrupt Southeast Asian nation after Indonesia in an annual poll by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy.

“Corruption exists and sometimes it seems to be open, such as teachers collecting money from students even in public class,” said In Samrithy, executive director of NGO Education Partnership.

He said Cambodia was lagging behind neighbouring countries in terms of the quality of education.

“Allowing students to cheat is dangerous for their future because what they write for their teachers is not their real knowledge, so when they face a real situation, especially in a competitive job market, they will have problems.”

by: Dara Saoyuth

Edited by: Mr. Suy Se, Cambodian news correspondent for AFP, and AFP editors

This article is under AFP copyright

You can’t copy thinking

September 10, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIFT

What is the best way to guarantee that you get good grades? If you are reading this magazine, you know the answer is hard work, but for too many of the country’s student the answer is cheating.

Although a culture of cheating is more pervasive in high school than it is at the country’s universities, many students bring their habit of cheating with them when they make the transition to college.

Cheating at university not only makes students’ higher education worthless, it reflects poorly on professors and administrators who can’t control their classes, and it is frustrating for students who are studying hard for tests and exams.

Rather than accept cheating as an unavoidable occurrence, many universities in the Kingdom are working to eliminate cheating from their classes altogether.

Ban Thero, the vice-chancellor at Cambodian Mekong University, said cheating happened regardless of how hard teachers tried to stop it, but that it can be cut down.

“Everywhere is the same. It’s not only Cambodian students who try to cheat. If there is chance to cheat, they will cheat,” said Ban Thero.

“At examinations at CMU, we don’t allow students to use telephones or other tools that can store information during the exam, and we don’t allow students to borrow pens or pencils from each other.”

The Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) has long been known among students as one of the most strict universities when it comes to examinations, which helps explain why their graduates speak their chosen language with such fluency.

Khan Bophan, the bachelor’s programmes coordinator at IFL, said Cambodian students graduating from high school had a habit of cheating during exams, so IFL made sure that these habits are broken before they enter the university by making the students pass a closely supervised entrance exam before the school year begins.

After that, if you can’t speak, read and write the language, you can’t pass the classes and students soon realise that cheating is no help.

“Students are under close supervision from two examiners. No paper is allowed on the desk. There is a wide space between each student. They are not allowed to pick up a call. They are not allowed out of the room. These are the main rules to ensure that there is no cheating at IFL,” said Khan Bophan. “We also shuffle teachers around, which means that people who teach a particular class do not check that class.”

According to a formal letter sent to all students at IFL, there are strict penalties for students caught cheating. The first time cheating results in a 20 percent deduction, second is 50 percent and the third time gets a 100 percent deduction.

When asked whether the strict rules, which may result in lower GPAs, will make it harder for student to get a job upon graduation, Khan Bophan said this should not be a concern, since transcripts alone do not get you a job. You have to pass multiple interviews, as well, and that is where students who have had to work for their grades will prevail.

by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 35, September 08, 2010

What’s gonna happen in Cambodian National Exam this year?

July 27, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIVE Blogging

Image via Wikipedia

This year National Examination will start from 26th-28th July with about 100,000 students and about 191 places will be used as exam centers across the countries, according to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport report.

To prevent irregularities during the exam, Touch Naroth, the Phnom Penh Municipal police chief, said this year will be the same as previous years that he will put his police force to guard exam centers depend on the request of the Ministry of Education.

Despite having police officers guard all the exam centers, every year, many people especially those from non-governmental organizations and students always talked and shared their concerns about irregularities happening during the exam.

Rong Chhun, the president of the Cambodia Independent Teachers Association (CITA), claimed to see students bribed inspectors to let them open documents and use telephone during the exam last year.

He said if they allow this situation to be continued in Cambodia, it will affect to the educational quality and they cannot produce the real human resource. “Weakness in Educational System cannot help developing our country,” he said.

Rong Chhun said he forecasted that this year examination is neither different nor better than the previous year exam since he has received information from some provinces and some parts in the city saying that teachers are planning to collect money at about 10000Riels (about $2.5) per subject while the exam doesn’t start yet.

Rong Chhun explained the reason for the irregularities resulted from the practices of the ministry is still weak and the head of the Ministry receive benefit from this exam.

A grade-12 student from Chea Sim Samarki High School and also a candidate for the upcoming exam, agreed that cheating happens.

He said none of student knows everything; at least they are still lacking some points, so they have to fulfill these parts by cheating. He continued that there are 10 subjects for him to focus on and it’s difficult to be good at all of them.

The student said he is not the best student but he always gets good grades in class, so he has enough ability for the exam. “If it is strict during the exam, it will be easy for me,” he said. “When it is not strict in class, it always affects me because other friends around me drag my paper untidily,” he continued.

Rong Chhun urged students to trust in themselves for the forthcoming exam. “We will have enough abilities to compete for the job opportunities providing that we pass because of our own capacities,” he said. He continued that parents must trust in their children, and the Ministry of Education must determine to make the exam process better so that we can get better quality for the country.

Note: Result for National Examination for Grade 12 will be announced on 20 August 2010 at noon for Phnom Penh, Kandal province and will be on 21 August 2010 for other provinces.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

25/07/2010

កិច្ចពិភាក្សាក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តលើមុខវិជ្ជាជំនាញ

June 9, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Feature Story, LIFT

Seven students who will be volunteering with Peace Corps/Photo by: Colin Meyn

ដោយមើលឃើញថាការបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់ឧត្តមសិក្សានិងការជ្រើសរើសមុខជំនាញនៅតាម

មហាវិទ្យាល័យ គឺជាឧបសគ្គមួយដែលបានចោទឡើងចំពោះសិស្សទី១២ ទើបក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តមកពីCambodian Peace Corp នឹងរៀបចំធ្វើពិពណ៌ការសិក្សា នៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ដើម្បីណែនាំដល់សិស្សានុសិស្ស ឱ្យមានបទពិសោធន៏ ក៏ដូចជាចំនេះដឹងខ្លះក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជា។ ទស្សនាវដ្តីLiftបានចុះទៅធ្វើការពិភាក្សានិងសាកសួរក្រុមនិស្សិតស្ម័គ្រចិត្តទាំងអស់នោះ ដើម្បីចង់ដឹងពីបទពិសោធរបស់ពួកគេ និងថាតើពួកគេនឹងនាំយកបទពិសោធព្រមទាំងគំនិតល្អៗអ្វីខ្លះទៅចែករំលែកដល់សិស្សនៅក្រុងសួង ខេត្តកំពង់ចាម។

នៅពេលដែលជីវភាពគ្រួសារ សមត្ថភាពផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន និងការអនុញ្ញាតពីគ្រួសារលែងជាបញ្ហា មានន័យថាសិស្សានុសិស្សអាចមកបន្តការសិក្សានៅមហាវិទ្យាល័យបានហើយ តែទោះជាយ៉ាងនេះមែន ការសម្រេចចិត្តជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជានិងសាលាដើម្បីបន្តការសិក្សាថ្នាក់ឧត្តមសិក្សាគឺជាដំណាក់កាលលំបាកមួយសម្រាប់ពួកគេ។

នាក់ ភក្ដី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតដែលកំពុងសិក្សាឆ្នាំទី៣ផ្នែកភាសាអង់គ្លេស នៅវិទ្យាស្ថានភាសាបរទេស បានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សភាគច្រើនមានការលំបាកក្នុងការជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជានិងសាលាដើម្បីរៀនបន្តដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេទទួលបានពត៌មានមិនគ្រប់គ្រាន់អំពីមុខវិជ្ជានីមួយៗ និងពត៌មានពីសាលាដែលបង្រៀនមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងនោះផងដែរ។

ដោយមានស្រុកកំណើតនៅ ឯក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ ភក្តីបានរម្លឹកឡើងវិញថាកាលពីខ្លួននៅរៀនថ្នាក់ទី១២ គេក៏មិនបានទទួលពត៌មានគ្រប់គ្រាន់ពីមុខវិជ្ជានិងសកលវិទ្យាល័យនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញទេ បើទោះបីជាមានការចុះទៅផ្សព្វផ្សាយខ្លះៗក៏ដោយ។ តាមរយៈការនិយាយប្រាប់ពីមិត្តភក្តិ ភក្តីបានសម្រេចចិត្តរៀនផ្នែកសំណង់ស៊ីវិលនៅសកលវិទ្យាល័យន័រតុន ដោយពេលនោះគេនៅតែមិនទាន់ដឹងថាខ្លួនឯងស្រលាញ់មុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីច្បាស់លាស់នោះឡើយ។ ភក្តីបន្តថា “បន្ទាប់ពីការសិក្សាមួយឆ្នាំខ្ញុំក៏ស្វែងយល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនឯងចូលចិត្តគឺភាសាអង់គ្លេស ដូច្នេះខ្ញុំក៏សម្រេចចិត្តបោះបង់ចោលមុខវិជ្ជាសំណង់ស៊ីវិលចោល ហើយអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំខាតគឺពេលវេលាមួយឆ្នាំរៀនមុខវិជ្ជាដែលខ្លួនមិនពេញចិត្ត”។

រឿងរ៉ាវចំពោះ ឈឹមសុធារិទ្ធិ ក៏មិនខុសគ្នាពីភក្តីប៉ុន្មានដែរ។ បច្ចុប្បន្នសុធារិទ្ធកំពុងសិក្សាពីរមុខវិជ្ជាគឺមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសនៅIFL និងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូទ័រនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យបៀលប្រាយ។ ថ្វីត្បិតតែសុធារិទ្ធជ្រើសរើសមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីរដោយការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្តពិតមែន តែនៅពេលដែលរើស គេក៏មិនបានដឹងថាតើមុខវិជ្ជាទាំងពីររៀនពីអ្វីខ្លះ ហើយឱកាសការងារយ៉ាងម៉េចនោះក៏មិនដឹងដែរ។

ដោយសារតែពត៌មានទាក់ទងនឹងការសិក្សាមិនត្រូវបានផ្សព្វផ្សាយទូលំទូលាយ សិស្សភាគច្រើនសម្រេចជ្រើសយកមុខវិជ្ជាសិក្សាទៅតាមការដែលពួកគេគិតថាតើមុខវិជ្ជានោះពេញនិយមឫក៏អត់។

មានមតិជាច្រើនយល់ខុសៗគ្នាអំពីមុខវិជ្ជាដែលកំពុងតែពេញនិយមនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា តួយ៉ាងភក្តីបានឱ្យដឹងថានៅក្នុងខេត្តរបស់គេផ្នែកវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តកុំព្យូរទ័រនិង ផ្នែកគ្រប់គ្រង ជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយមជាងគេព្រោះវានៅតែអាចឈរជើងបានខណៈពេលដែលមុខវិទ្យាមួយចំនួនទៀតត្រូវបានបិទដោយខ្វះសិស្សរៀន។

ចំណែកឯនៅទីក្រុងភ្នំពេញ ភក្តីយល់ថាមុខវិជ្ជាគណនេយ្យ ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបានការពេញនិយមជាពិសេសពីសំណាក់សិស្សស្រីៗ ដោយមូលហេតុថាពួកគេសម្លឹងមើលឃើញមុខវិជ្ជានេះអាចផ្តល់ការងារឱ្យពួកគេបានស្រួលនៅពេលដែលពួកគេបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សា។

ចំនែកនិស្សិតម៉ាត់ សារី សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី១ផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យសេដ្ឋកិច្ចវិញយល់ថាផ្នែកសំណង់ ទទួលបានការនិយមច្រើនព្រោះសិស្សភាគច្រើនយល់ថាប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ជាប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍ ដូច្នេះការសាងសង់នឹងត្រូវបានធ្វើឡើងជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ដូចជាផ្ទះធំៗ ផ្លូវថ្នល់ ស្ពានជាដើម។ តែបើតាមគំនិតរបស់សុធារិទ្ធិវិញ ផ្នែកធនាគារក៏ជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលទទួលបានការពេញនិយមដែរ ព្រោះនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមានធនាគារជាច្រើនទាំងធនាគារជាតិនិងធនាគារអន្តរជាតិ ហេតុនេះហើយនិស្សិតភាគច្រើនគិតថានឹងងាយស្រួលមានការងារធ្វើនៅពេលដែលបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សាផ្នែកធនាគារ។

រីឯភោគ ផល្លីគុល សព្វថ្ងៃជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទី៤ផ្នែកច្បាប់នៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យភូមិន្ទនីតិសាស្រ្តនិងវិទ្យាសាស្រ្តសេដ្ឋកិច្ច បែរជាយល់ថាផ្នែកអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសជាមុខវិជ្ជាពេញនិយម ព្រោះនាងសង្កេតឃើញថានិស្សិតភាគច្រើនចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាអក្សរសាស្រ្តអង់គ្លេសទន្ទឹមគ្នានឹងមុខជំនាញមួយទៀត ដោយក្តីរំពឹងថាភាសាអង់គ្លេសជាស្ពានជួយឱ្យការសិក្សាមុខជំនាញមួយទៀតរបស់គេឆ្ពោះទៅមុខល្អ ព្រោះសម័យនេះឯកសារភាគច្រើនត្រូវបានគេសរសេរឡើងជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស។

តាមពិតទៅមុខវិជ្ជាអ្វីក៏ដោយ សុទ្ធតែល្អដូចៗគ្នាហើយអាចឱ្យមនុស្សរកប្រាក់ចំនូលបានច្រើនដូចគ្នាប្រសិនបើពួកគេចេះមុខវិជ្ជានោះច្បាស់លាស់ដូចពាក្យមួយឃ្លាពោលថា”មិនមែនមនុស្សខ្វះការងារធ្វើទេ គឺមានតែការងារទេដែលខ្វះមនុស្សទៅធ្វើ”។ ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ ប្រាប់ថាតាមបទពិសោធដែលគាត់ធ្លាប់ជួបជាមួយអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិងអ្នកស្វែងរកការងារធ្វើ គាត់សង្កេតឃើញភាពខុសប្លែកគ្នាដោយ អ្នកស្វែងរកការងារនិយាយថាពិបាកស្វែងរកការងារ តែអ្នកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកនិយាយថាពិបាកជ្រើសរើសបុគ្គលិកដែលមានសមត្ថភាពមកធ្វើការ។ សុធារិទ្ធបន្តថានេះគឺមកពីនិស្សិតមួយចំនួន ពួកគាត់រៀនដោយការមិនចូលចិត្តឫមិនដឹងថាតើពួកគេកំពុងតែរៀនអំពីអ្វីទាល់តែសោះ។

ការរើសមុខវិជ្ជាមួយឱ្យត្រឹមត្រូវ មានន័យថាបុគ្គលខ្លួនឯងយ៉ាងហោចណាស់ត្រូវតែមានការស្រលាញ់ពេញចិត្ត ចុះបើការរើសដោយខ្លួនឯងមិនពេញចិត្តនឹងមានអ្វីកើតឡើង?

នូវ គីមហៀក មកពីខេត្តកំពង់ចាម ជានិស្សិតឆ្នាំទីមួយផ្នែកធនាគារ នៅវិទ្យាស្ថាន សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ បានឱ្យដឹងថាផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចមិនមែនជាមុខវិជ្ជាដែលនាងពេញចិត្តនោះទេ ហេតុនេះហើយទើបបណ្តាលឱ្យនាងចាប់យកមុខវិជ្ជាមួយទៀតគឺផ្នែកទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិនៅសាកលវិទ្យាល័យបញ្ញាសាស្រ្ត។ គីមហៀកថ្លែងថាសព្វថ្ងៃខ្ញុំរៀនពីរមុខ ដោយមុខវិជ្ជាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាមុខវិជ្ជា ដែលឪពុកម្តាយនិងបងប្អូនខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់ ឯមុខវិជ្ជាខាងទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិទើបជាអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំស្រលាញ់។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធបានលើកឡើងថាសិស្សមួយចំនួនមិនបានជ្រើសរើសរៀនមុខវិជ្ជាផ្នែកកសិកម្មឡើយ ដោយពួកគេមិនបានគិតដល់ថាសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៃប្រទេសកម្ពុជា១ផ្នែកធំគឺពឹងផ្អែកលើវិស័យកសិកម្ម។

ឈឹម សុធារិទ្ធ បន្តទៀតថាអ្នកមួយចំនួនយល់ខុសថាការរៀនកសិកម្មពេលចប់គ្មានអាចធ្វើអ្វីបានក្រៅពីធ្វើស្រែ តែតាមពិតពួកគេអាចមានលទ្ធភាពច្រើនក្នុងការជួយដល់ខ្លួនគេនិងសហគមន៍៕

Written by: Dara Saoyuth and Koam Tivea

This article was published on Lift, Issue 22, June 9, 2010

Education is an indivisible part of the prosperity of the nation. The more educated and cultured people there are in the country, the more flourishing and thrifty the country is.

March 18, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

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Education is simply defined as a process by which people acquire knowledge, skills, habits, values, or attitudes. Process of teaching and learning has existed in human society since thousands years ago. Human beings have been learning, thought informal, from world around them to find ways to change their society and to improve the quality their living. Initially, people lived in a primitive society called hunting and gathering society in which they depended totally on nature and earned for living by hunting animal and gathering eatable fruits and plants. Later on, people started to learn to find ways to be independent from the nature. They produced plough for farming and knew how to build reservoirs to store water for agriculture and household uses that made their food supply more stable. The invention of steam engine in 1765 was a remarkable turning point in human history that drove people into an industrial era. Most noticeably, the exploring computer and other information technologies just recently are turning human history upside down; all parts of the world seem to be much closer, and lives become much easier. The evolution of society and human history above, sure, would not occur if there was absence of education. Thus, to some aspects, education is playing a vital role in making the betterment of people and their society.

Education is acting significantly in eradicating poverty in a nation. There are many factors leading to poverty, but the major ones are unemployment, poor health and domestic violence, which, generally seen, are rooted from low level of education. In free and strongly competitive market, effective and efficient production is a main concern of all producers to extend it supplying power in the market. By this, they require workers and employees who are more and more skilled, meaning jobs for unskilled workers are dwindling day by day. A long with this, health condition of people also closely relates to educational level of them. Millions of people around the world are dying of curable diseases and around 30 thousands of children are killed by prevented illness (Real Aid, 2005). Most of them are illiterate. They do not know how to deal with heir health problems or how to live healthily. They still depend mostly on customary medicines or traditional practices which are influenced by superstition to cure their illness. Consequently, this is a disaster for their whole nation when millions of people are not productive and stats have to spend large amount of their budget in health care program. A long with this, illiterate people tend to commit domestic violence more often than educated ones, which makes them waste their time in earning for living and drives them to poverty.

However, as mentioned above, the factors are mainly resulted from low level of education among people. Thus, by promoting education or making education widely available to school-age people can eliminate the factors. Education, obviously, promotes understanding and skills amongst people and makes them qualified to employment market. Through formal education, which is mostly conducted at schools, students can learn many different subjects such as science, philosophy, history, and so forth which they can apply into their daily lives and careers. A long with this, people who can not access a formal one can attend in informal education in which skills and other practical knowledge are taught. People can do courses in mechanics, constructing, tailoring, carpentry, cooking and others on which they can depend to earn for living. Consequently, that more and more people are knowledgeable and skilful attracts more and more foreign investors and increases job opportunity and accelerates income for people. Furthermore, when people are educated, their health, accordingly, is also improved because they know how to keep themselves healthy and how to raise their children healthily. They become aware of how important medicines and vaccines are for their lives. As a result, the rate of mortality will decrease. As stated in the WHO’s report called “Controlling SIT/HIV in Cambodia” (2001), there was a decline in the rate of Cambodian people newly infected HIV from 3.9{0a5c1eeb84ccc7c2d601964b33dd4fc73dc6a68f91616e3e53041e90b1033ab3} (210.000) of the 15 to 49 years old in 1997 to 2.8{0a5c1eeb84ccc7c2d601964b33dd4fc73dc6a68f91616e3e53041e90b1033ab3} (169.000) in 2001. This was believed to be a result of successful efforts to increase condom use among those most at risk through a public education campaign about the dangers and consequences of HIV launched by the government in 2000. This is evidence illustrating that education is a fruitful measure to keep people healthy.

Besides, education can ensure a sustainable development for a nation. Sustainable development refers to a development that does not bring any harm to environment and residents (Hornby, 2000). Actually, not all development projects benefit to people and their nation. Some of them, though, can provide millions of dollars to the national budget; they have provided nothing but pollutants to surrounding residents and environment there. To be sure that one development project is profitable or not, reliable researches and studies must be conducted. Surely, these can not be achieved if there are not enough national technicians and specialists. By using the mechanism of education, many people will be educated to be specialists, technicians and researchers that will work fruitfully in observing all development projects. Beside this, national development policies will be more effective and workable when more and more people comprehend a concept of sustainable development. For instance, in 1996, hundreds of Costa Ricans protested the government and asked it to cancel the Placer Dome Company’s open-pit gold mine project when they learned that the project harmed the environment and local inhabitants. To respond, the government of Costa Rica decided to end the project (Shively, 2007).

Furthermore, education paves the way for researching for new technologies that can ease people’s living and improve national productivity. With the support from modern technologies, the quality of products must be upgraded and speed of production increase at the same time; this will become a strong point of a nation’s economy in international competitive market. As clear evidence, because labor cost in the United States is so high comparing to other developing countries such as China and India, its goods are hard to compete with ones coming from developing countries. To solve with this, US invested millions of dollars into education and research for the new technologies to be applied in manufacturing. As a result, US still sustained it economic growth, for their scientific and technological capacity outperformed in producing high-tech goods and services (Shively, 2007).

National identity can be preserved and promoted well by education. At school, students are required to learn their history, culture, art and so on. By this way, national identity is passed on from a generation to another. Students can know where their ancestors came from, what languages they are speaking originate from. It is education that our history and identity are known nationwide. Historians, artists, philosophers and specialists in other fields who are the achievement of education can do more researches, compile documentations or recover hidden history or culture to clarify their national identity. Nowadays, we have obtained more and more knowledge of our past history and our specialists have developed more and more precise theories that our next generations can count on for their studies and their next researches. Thus, we can not only preserve the existing heritage but also widen the understanding of our culture, history, and keep passing on to next generations.

Additionally, education can be used as an effective mechanism to reduce conflict in society and promote world peace. It broadens the sense of belonging and unity by teaching basic understanding of social needs, culture, human right, and people can be taught the social norms which are helpful for them to adjust to rapid change of society. Students learn what their duties are for their society that helps them to be active social members. Anti-racial, human right and law education also help them to reduce the sense of discrimination between races in society and cut down in great distance racial disputes in all societies, avoid committing activities violating other people’s right or nation’s law. Gender education teaches them the concepts of gender equity and the importance of cooperation between males and females in national development and family welfare. It is through education that provides chance to people in all nations to know one another and let them learn to share the world and have the same dream of living peacefully together. As a result, a hyper-nationalism which was once seen generally as one of main causes of racial disputes and invasions amongst nations is almost rooted out.

Opponents raise a point that education can be used to provoke unrest in society and racial disputes around the world. They point out some evidences from Middle East’s instability such as in Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan where civil wars are fueled by thousands of people who are educated with Muslim doctrine. However, this is resulted from a misuse of education. In fact, education is a process of teaching and learning something positive and useful. As stated in national education policies (1999) organized by Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, the objectives of the Cambodian education system is to fully develop children in all aspects of quality, mentally and physically. Teaching people to do suicide bombings or to hold guns to set fire on others is not viewed as an education; it is an evil training. Japan whose literacy rate is said over 95{0a5c1eeb84ccc7c2d601964b33dd4fc73dc6a68f91616e3e53041e90b1033ab3} is a case proofing that education is a main catalyst to prosper the nation. With a high rate of literacy, Japan becomes rich at human resource very active in economic activities, and consequently, it emerges a top-ranking economic power (the second largest economy nation) with the average income per person per year is up to $34,193.60 (Omura, 2006). In short, education does not bring any harm to society, inversely, it prosper the nation.

To sum up, education has been performing well to keep human society progressing. It promotes the understanding of the world, aspect of life, social norms and multi-culture that help people to adjust to the rapid change of society, maintain national identity and unity, and keep the world in peace. It also provides people skills to be well-prepared for employment. Most importantly, education can eliminate many factors that cause social inactivity and poverty. Hence, for the betterment of human society, education must be the basic service that most governments are expected to provide to their people. Governments of all nations must put their great effort to strengthen national education policy to ensure that their people of all ages can access to an effective and practical education, for it is no doubt the more educated and cultured people there are in the country, the more flourishing and thrifty the country is.

Written by: Ty Phearom

Reference

Hornby, C. (2000). Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary for current English.New York:

Oxford University Press.

Omura, M. (2006). Japan’s new legal education system: Towards international legal

education. Tokyo: Tokyo University Press.

Shively, W. P. (2007). Power and choice: An introduction to political science. New York:

McGraw-Hill.

World health organization.( 2001). Controlling STI and HIV in Cambodia: The success of

condom promotion. Philippines: Regional office for the western pacific.

Cambodian school adopting Japanese method enjoys popularity

February 25, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Hot news, Inform

A private school in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh adopting Japanese-style teaching in music, painting and other subjects is enjoying high popularity.

The school’s principal, 60-year-old Yasuo Anzai, was an assistant principal at a junior high school in Saitama Prefecture before going to Cambodia, leaving his family behind in the city of Saitama eight years ago.

In Cambodia which has been struggling to overcome the legacy of the terror reigned Pol Pot era, he said, ”I’d like to help children who will create a new era.”

In December, ”Edelweiss,” a song from the musical ”The Sound of Music,” echoed in downtown Cambodia where barrack cabins and tenements are lined up. Several children played keyed harmonicas in front of the ”Bamboo and Wind School,” about 4.5 kilometers southwest of the Royal Palace.

”In this country, music education materials for children are very limited. I’m teaching them painting and music to brush up their sensitivity,” Anzai said.

Painting and music are rarely taught in elementary school in Cambodia.

His school offers morning, afternoon and night classes, and some 100 children aged 5 to 18 are attending. With six local teachers in their teens through 20s, the school is teaching how to read and write Khmer, the official Cambodian language, and mathematics, and instructing music and painting. They also teach some selected students Japanese and English.

To help them gain a better understanding of life and ethics, the school has also adopted Japanese-style teaching, such as radio gymnastics and evaluation meetings after lessons.

”It’s enjoyable to be able to study things different from Cambodian schools,” a 9-year-old boy said. ”The school has become a bit of a popular school (in Cambodia).”

The school collects $3 a month per child from their parents to pay for utilities. The amount is much smaller than tuition at other public schools and support from his former school colleagues in Japan covers the shortfall caused by educational material expenses and salaries for teachers.

Supporters also include Rotary clubs in Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, and Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Anzai said, ”Education is indispensable for the development of a country. I’d like to work hard as if I were still young.”

He taught social studies at junior high schools in Saitama Prefecture and other locations for about 30 years and also assumed the post of deputy principal. Impressed by Cambodia children during his trip to the country in 1998, he came to Cambodia after his retirement.

In Cambodia, the memories of the Indochina War and massacres are still intact. ”The country is a small country tormented by wars and the big powers. It has kept my attention ever since the Vietnam War,” he said.

”Although Cambodian industry is still lagging behind, graduates from our school will take on various professions in the future,” he said, adding his school will start computer classes.

Source: Khmerization

For full story click here

Khmer Language taught in state schools in Thailand

February 23, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Hot news, Inform

1 Comment

Mr. Cheymongkol teaching Khmer Surin kids in Surin province./Photo by: Cheymongkol

Khmer language will be taught in Thai schools in 2010, starting with 2-3 schools in Surin province, said. Mr. Cheymongkol, a Khmer Surin who has been making great efforts to teach Khmer Surin kids the Khmer language in his privately-run schools for the last three years.

The 2-3 schools to teach Khmer language are in Svay and Rumduol villages in Surin province. Mr. Cheymongkol said, currently, he needs Khmer textbooks and teaching materials as well as qualified teachers.

Mr. Cheymongkol said he is seeking assistance from the Cambodian government to help providing qualified teachers and some financial assistance to get the Khmer literacy programs in Surin up the ground. In March, he will travel to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to search for qualified Khmer teachers and to collect Khmer textbooks bought with donations from Khmer expatriates in the United States.

Mr. Cheymongkol, a Khmer native born in Thailand’s Sisaket province opposite Preah Vihear temple, has been instrumental in the teaching of Khmer language to Khmer natives in Thailand, with some financial assistance from Khmer expatriates in America, Australia, France and Norway.

Source: Khmerization

For full story click here

My Comment

I was browsing through the Khmerization blog the other day when I found the above article. I think it’s good that Khmer Langugae can be taught in Thailand because doing that can help Cambodian children who live in Thailand are able to study thier national language.

After reading this article, what is your opinion? (Click on the phrase “Leave a Comment” below to show up your idea related to this article…)