VVOB’s Learner Centred Methodology (LCM) project started in 2004. It focused on strengthening the methodology of primary school teachers in the provinces of Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey and Kampong Cham. By involving, challenging and motivating students, and by making lessons more interactive, the LCM project aimed at stimulating primary school students to actively attend classes. It also encouraged parents to support their children in continuing to attend school and it built teacher capacity by empowering the teachers, giving them support on implementing new methodologies and increasing their involvement.
The LCM methodology was introduced at the Provincial Teacher Training Centre of Siem Reap. Special training content and materials were developed which resulted in a manual for pre-service teacher training. Other examples include digital materials such as task sheets on LCM and a DVD box with movie clips depicting teaching examples and with corresponding question sheets that prompt the student to analyse the fragments.
The directors of the schools were trained on how to support their teachers and they too received a manual, about school management. Also the Cross-curricular project: the market parents and the community were involved in the teaching process in which cross-curricular themes and life skills integration were brought to their attention. Examples include environment, HIV/Aids and gender.
How video is used to teach methodology to teacher students
Handing over the project
From 2008 onwards, the project’s activities focused on consolidation by setting up a sustainable structure for the continued and practically-oriented implementation of LCM in the pilot schools. At the same time, mainstreaming activities took place through nation-wide training at all Provincial Teacher Training Centres. This happened in close cooperation with other donors and NGOs. The published LCM manual and subsequent DVD box with teaching examples were approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Both were distributed nation-wide.
In 2009 the project was handed over to the partners after a positive evaluation by a team of external evaluators and members of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
