Launching of the Khmer Language ICT textbook for Schools and Teacher Training Institutions,
and inauguration of the Low Cost Computing Research Laboratory for Education
Under the Framework of ICT Master Plan Development

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) launched today - at the National Institute of Education - the new Khmer language ICT textbook that will be used by all public teaching institutions in Cambodia. The book marks the change to use computer programs in Khmer language in all schools, phasing out the teaching programs that are in English or French.

The new ICT Textbook is the new reference ICT textbook for all schooling levels, teacher training institutions, and the administration of the MoEYS. The Khmer language computer applications being used are free (Open Source) and cover word processing, spreadsheets, Internet, e-mail, and many other uses of computers. Teachers from all uppers secondary schools that have computers - as well as educators from all teacher training centers - have already been trained to teach Khmer language computer applications.

The laboratory of the Low Cost Computing Research has already started looking into the issue of power-consumption, a major concern in Cambodia. It has studied several specialized computers that - while giving the required service - use only a 10% to 20% of the electricity used by a normal desktop computer of the same capacity.

The Lab has also started producing prototypes for a first generation of computer cases specially designed for the the conditions under which computers have to operate in schools (electricity, dust, security, etc.). Computers for this room have been donated by Intel Corporation.

The Khmer language ICT textbook has been printed with the support of Spanish Cooperation, InWEnt, UNESCO, and VVOB. The Low Cost Computing Research Laboratory for Education will operate under the support of Spanish Cooperation and other donors.

Phnom Penh, 22 January 2008

Links:
Low Cost Computing for Education Laboratory: www.open.org.kh/locolab
Open Schools Program - www.open.org.kh/osp
Ministry - www.moeys.gov.kh
Open Institute - www.open.org.kh/
Intel "Little Valley"

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/D201GLY/index.htm

For more information, please contact

Ministry of Education Youth and Sport
Sok Tha
Co-project Manager Open Schools Program
soktha (at) moeys.gov.kh 011 901 801

Open Institute
Javier Solá
Co-project Manager Open Schools Program
javier (at) khmeros.info 012 415 734