SeeBeyondBorders Australia

Strengthening Literacy Teaching in Rural Cambodia

Strengthening Literacy Teaching in Rural Cambodia

Every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of background. However, in rural Cambodia, many children struggle to access even a basic education due to inadequate teaching, overcrowded classrooms, and under-resourced environments. SeeBeyondBorders Australia is tackling this critical issue by expanding its literacy project to ten schools in Siem Reap, where children lag significantly behind ...

GOAL

$30,000

International
07/01/2024 > 30/06/2025

Field of Interest

  • Education/training and employment
  • International aid and development

Target Population

  • People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability
  • Professional workforce
SeeBeyondBorders Australia SeeBeyondBorders Australia

For over 15 years, SeeBeyondBorders Australia has been transforming primary education in Cambodia. Our dedication has impacted hundreds of schools and thousands of lives. Over the past 15 years, we've worked with 250 schools, supported over 700 teachers, and improved education outcomes for 30,000 children. A child in a school supported by our programmes is 1.8 times more likely to reach grade-level Minimum Proficiency Levels in literacy than other schools. In 2023, 65% of students from participating schools achieved literacy Minimum Proficiency Levels, compared to only 36% of students in control schools.

In Australia, we are accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for demonstrating capacity and performance against indicators. In Cambodia, the Ministry of Education has recognised our work for its contribution to developing a national mentoring framework, and we are the only organisation in Cambodia to have won the UNESCO Prize for Outstanding Practice and Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Teachers.

Teachers play a vital role in determining the quality of a child's education, so we focus on building their teaching competencies. We collaborate with the Ministry of Education to enhance the curriculum, equipping it with engaging online resources and innovative teaching methods. We offer educators a comprehensive professional development package, including training and mentorship. This empowers teachers to increase their effectiveness in teaching maths and literacy, integrating educational technology to enhance learning and classroom management. Ultimately, this allows teachers to deliver compelling and interactive lessons that improve student learning outcomes.

Project Summary

Every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of background. However, in rural Cambodia, many children struggle to access even a basic education due to inadequate teaching, overcrowded classrooms, and under-resourced environments.

SeeBeyondBorders Australia is tackling this critical issue by expanding its literacy project to ten schools in Siem Reap, where children lag significantly behind the national average (3.7 years vs. 5 years) and the capital Phnom Penh (8.7 years). Our assessment revealed deep learning gaps, with only 8% of students reaching Minimum Proficiency Levels in literacy.

During the project, teachers will participate in workshops to solidify their knowledge and expertise in teaching literacy. The project adopts a multi-strategy approach that combines reading, writing, word study (phonics), speaking, listening, and assessment into a sequential process, fostering critical thinking throughout. Teachers will gain the confidence and competence to guide their students effectively by deepening their understanding of how they become literate as part of the developmental process. Monthly workshops, ongoing support, and daily lesson plans will ensure consistent skill development.

Key activities to improve literacy for 765 children include:
– Building teacher capacity through workshops
– Equipping teachers to deliver engaging literacy lessons
– Training teacher mentors to provide supportive mentoring
– Providing ongoing in-classroom mentoring support
– Offering high-quality teaching resources
– Engaging families and communities in their children’s education
– Integrating technology to enhance learning

Your support can help bridge the educational gap and empower children in rural Cambodia to reach their full potential. Donate to SeeBeyondBorders Australia today and make a lasting difference!

Project Outcomes

The project aims to improve teachers' competency and confidence in teaching literacy, ultimately providing children in rural Cambodia with a better quality education and start in life.

We expect the project to achieve the following outcomes in ten primary schools:
- 765 students will receive a better quality education in literacy. We aim for at least 50% of students to meet Minimum Proficiency Levels by the end of the project, as measured by a pre-and post-student assessment tool.
- 24 primary school teachers will become competent and confident in teaching literacy. We aim for at least 75% of teachers to reach Level 2 out of 4 on the Teacher Competency Scale by the end of the project.
- 12 teacher mentors will develop the tools, skills, and knowledge to effectively mentor other teachers in their district. All mentors will reach Level 2 out of 4 on the Mentor Competency Scale by the end of the project.

The project will have a significant impact on improving early-grade primary education for 875 children in Northwest Cambodia, with the benefits extending to an additional 1,912 children over the next five years. This demonstrates the project's excellent value for money and its potential as a long-term investment in Cambodia's educational future.

Budget Breakdown

TOTAL BUDGET: $75,917
FUNDING
Funding source Amount
Overseas Foundations (confirmed) $20,000
Individual supporters in Australia (unconfirmed) $5,917
Government Donor (confirmed) $20,000
Funding Gap (unconfirmed) $30,000
EXPENSES
Expense item Amount
Workshops: Six literacy workshops and two educational technology integration workshops $3,411
Travel: Project team travel to implement the project $4,196
Stakeholder Engagement: Meetings and events with school principals, community members, parents and local government officials $513
Reflective Learning: Monthly meetings of teachers and mentors to reflect on teaching and mentoring practices $1,653
Mentoring: Mentoring visits for teachers $1,592
Resources: Literacy teaching and classroom resource packs for each classroom $11,628
Monitoring and evaluation: Student pre- and post-assessments $4,949
Project Staff: Leaders & implementation team (8) $47,975

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