The fourth annual Student-Teacher Education Fair, recently held at the Phnom Penh Teacher Education College (PTEC), saw participation from as many as 2,000 students and teachers. Nath Bunroeun, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), presided over the event. The fair was attended by several senior officials from MoEYS, heads of educational institutions, as well as numerous students and teachers.
“We conducted this exhibition to showcase the skills of our students and teachers. We feel that the MoEYS’s focus on quality education with practical exposure is what is most needed for Cambodian students. STEM-focused education will give children many essential skills they need for life”, said Dr Seng Set, Director, PTEC.
Since its inception in 2017, the event has been a cornerstone of PTEC’s strategic plan. Between 2019 and 2023, PTEC has organized three annual Student-Teacher Education Fairs. This year’s event featured 59 booths set up by the faculties of various education departments. PTEC is officially recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) as an accredited provider of continuous professional development (CPD). Event organizers stated that the exhibition focused on students aspiring to pursue careers in STEAM.
Students and teachers from institutions such as the PTEC’s attached schools – Anuwath Reachtheany Primary School and O Bekkam Lower Secondary School – participated among others. The PTEC Exhibition also held contests for its Best Practises Award. The top 10 exhibits it said will be evaluated based on criteria such as contribution to society, team collaboration, innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving ability. The event organizers said, “The 10 best student-teacher groups will receive prizes, incentives, and certificates from PTEC”.
The PTEC also said that it has outlined a strategic plan as a teacher education institution. PTEC said its key areas of focus will be, “promoting academic excellence by ensuring that student-teachers graduate as fully qualified educators. This is achieved through an interactive curriculum, an effective learning environment and regular updates for professional development”.
PTEC’s research wing has secured both national and international collaborations to ensure research excellence. The Institute also organizes community services, enabling teachers in training programs to interact with elementary school students in rural areas and engage with existing social welfare services. The education fair was co-sponsored by the Digital Learning Center/AI, the STEM Education Company of Malaysia (MYTED), and the Korean health major Samsung Pharma Co Ltd.
At the fair, the Department of Science featured a total of 22 booths: 16 were dedicated to student-teachers specializing in lower education and six for those focusing on primary education. Meanwhile, the Department of Maths had 11 booths, with five designed for student-teachers specializing in lower education and six for those focusing on primary education.
