Sorn Reachsey, a 31-year-old teacher, has recognized the immense potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in transforming traditional teaching and learning methods. He believes incorporating ICT into classrooms can significantly enhance the learning experience for students and help teachers deliver their lessons more efficiently and effectively.

Mr. Reachsey teaches grade 4 at Krang Srama Primary School in Svay Chuk Commune, Sameaki Mean Chey District, Kampong Chhnang Province. This school is one of the seven classes that have been equipped with EdTech (Educational Technology) support from the "Safe Back to School—Pathways in Educational Equity and Resilience” (PEER) project.

In 2014, Mr. Reachsey began his career as a teacher. At that time, he had only a basic knowledge of the English language and the use of Microsoft Word and Excel. However, a computer was not available at his school. He used a whiteboard during his lessons to write, draw, and explain to his students. He often wrote paper reports and personally delivered them to his colleagues, which was time-consuming.

“Back then, I was not aware of any digital platforms for teaching. Most of the teaching materials were made by hand and of low quality. I used to travel long distances to submit or collect documents. Moreover, he noticed that the students’ grades were also low,” he said.

Funded by Save the Children Korea in July 2021, the PEER Project has collaborated with the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sport to support 32 target schools. The support included capacity strengthening to teachers, establishing committees to oversee school and classroom management, and providing digital resources, including laptops, tablets, and Wi-Fi connectors, to seven EdTech classes.

The support allowed Mr. Reachsey to identify ways in which ICT can be utilized to enhance the process of his teaching and self-learning process, such as using educational software, online resources, and multimedia tools that make the learning experience more engaging and interactive for his students.

“I can now use Google Forms, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Meet, Telegram, PowerPoint, Email, and especially the Inclusive Learning Platform (ILP) Box to support my classroom and distance learning teaching,” he said. “These tools are really helpful and great for learning.”

Mr. Reachsey also noted that the ILP Box is a resource that contains many digital lessons and serves as a resource library for teachers and students, adding that his students’ academic results have improved with ixts use.

With his proactive involvement and outstanding performance at school, Mr. Reachsey is frequently invited to share his knowledge and experience with his peers and other schools, said the school principal, Mr. Preap Thon.

“I have noticed a significant improvement in his teaching and task management skills. As a result, we recently awarded him a certificate of appreciation and supported him in competing for the upcoming Samdech Techo Sen Award for Good Teacher in 2024,” he said.

Sitting in his EdTech class, Ou Rathanak, an 11-year-old student of Mr. Reachsey, enjoys using ICT materials and practicing exercises in the ILP Box during his free time. He noted he learns faster and understands quickly when his teacher presents photos and videos to explain the lessons.

“I can research and explore topics I missed in class on my tablet with ICT materials. The more I practice, the more I progress. This month, I even scored an impressive 8th place, which shows how much ICT has boosted my learning”, said Rathanak.