Advanced networking skills for educators in Cambodia
ConvergenceAsia staff
23/08/2007

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia and Cisco have agreed to train up to 25 teachers in five teacher education institutes (TEIs) in the skills needed to use information and communications technology (ICT) in the classroom.

The initiative is a part of the larger UNESCO Next-Generation (Next Gen) Project, for which Cisco has pledged financial and resource contributions through the Cisco Networking Academy.

The Next Gen project was begun in recognition of the need for effective programs to prepare pre-service teachers to use ICT to enhance teaching and learning. The project aims to build the capacity of TEIs in the Asia-Pacific region to prepare the next generation of teachers. Ten countries in Asia are taking part in the Next Gen Project: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. In each of these countries, three TEIs are participating in project activities, making a total of 30 participating TEIs.

Under the agreement, Cisco will integrate TEIs into existing Networking Academies that have the know-how to develop the ICT skills of pre-service teachers. Lead trainers from each TEI will attend instructor-training sessions in the Cisco Networking Academy's IT Essentials Software and Hardware and IT Essentials Networking Fundamentals curriculums. Training will be provided by Cisco Networking regional academies in each country over 10 days. Once trained, the instructors will offer the Networking Academy curriculum to pre-service teachers and start a Networking Academy in their TEI.

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