Chhern Lisa, a fourth-grade teacher in the Puok District, about an hour from Siem Reap, greets each day with a smile. Her classroom fills with the sound of chatter as she divides her students into groups.
Today’s science class is hands-on: students are building toy cars from recycled materials – including cardboard, bottle caps and toy wheels – they have brought from home. She asks her students to delegate tasks within their groups and work collaboratively.
Lisa teaches Khmer, math, science and social studies at Athipadei Primary School. She is one of nearly 1,300 primary teachers participating in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s rollout of the national continuous professional development (CPD) system.
With support from UNESCO through the Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam) and funding of over $27 million from GPE, the system was developed and piloted successfully in 100 schools in Siem Reap province under Phase I (2018–2022).
The national CPD system gives more teachers access to professional development opportunities aligned with their interests and needs.
Now in Phase II (2024–2028), nearly 50 accredited courses are available as the system expands nationwide, including five target provinces – Siem Reap, Kratie, Stung Treng, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear – to ensure more teachers benefit from quality, continuous learning.
Empowering teachers to unlock student potential
Throughout her nine years of teaching, Lisa’s guiding principle has been to make learning fun and interactive. She is of the firm belief that teachers have a lasting impact on the development and learning of students both inside and outside of the classroom. She asserts, “Teachers do more than just pass on knowledge and skills; they also shape the minds and characters of their students.” In the past, teachers in Cambodia had few opportunities for professional growth. The education ministry rarely acknowledged short-term, irregular training programs. The new national CPD system, supported by STEPCam and GPE, has changed that, introducing a unified and accredited approach to teacher development.
When the system was piloted in Siem Reap in 2021–2022, Lisa was among the first to enroll.
She discovered hands-on activities like the toy car lesson in the Methodology for Teaching Science for Upper Primary Grades course, which now makes her classes more collaborative and engaging. Lisa received three official CPD credits after completing the course, which are now listed in her ministry staff profile. For teachers, the new system not only offers opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning, but the credits earned can contribute to career advancement.
Lisa is currently enrolled in a course on the use of ICT in education to continue her education.
Transforming teacher training through technology
Expanding the national CPD system involves offering teachers a wider variety of meaningful, high-quality courses that meet their needs and interests.
Under Phase II, STEPCam is supporting the education ministry to broaden the supply of professional learning opportunities as well as support and selected teacher education institutions to develop blended CPD courses.
New accredited courses focusing on classroom management, ICT skills, science teaching, and child development and learning were launched in 2025 on the basis of a training needs assessment conducted in 2024 with over 1,300 teachers. To make learning more accessible, courses combine in-person sessions with online and self-directed components.
