Ms. Rous Sreynech has finally won a prestigious nationwide award for her outstanding teaching, although she went through two setbacks. Her commitment to her students and determination in the face of challenges have been truly inspiring, proving that perseverance can lead to success.

Ms. Sreynech, a grades 1 and 4 teacher at Ang Serei Primary School, was awarded first place in the "Good Teacher" of Khmer Literature category in the Samdech Techo Sen (former Prime Minister Hun Sen) Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. At 28 years old, Ms. Sreynech lives with her parents in Kampong Tralach District's Longveaek Commune, located 25 kilometers from the Primary School in Thma Edth Commune. To make her daily commute​ to school more accessible, she currently stays in a room owned by Ms. El Lika, Head of the School Management Committee.

Ms. Sreynech excels in teaching first-grade Khmer reading and writing. Her classroom is filled with decorations and various study materials, making it an engaging learning environment. She incorporates activities such as group discussions, study games, and step-by-step assessments, especially focusing on students with learning difficulties.

“It was difficult for me to teach the early-grade reading package in Khmer. Teaching requires patience, flexibility, and good techniques and technologies,” Ms. Sreynech described her initial struggles. She faced challenges in identifying and supporting students with disabilities and special needs especially children who do not talk and those who often cry in class. Understanding each of the students takes time and figuring out ways to best interact with them was a key to address these challenges. Originally, her classroom lacked proper organization, and minimal parental involvement led to a decline in education quality and increased absenteeism.

Ang Serei Primary School, where Sreynich taught, is one of the 32 target schools supported by the Safe Back to School– Pathways in Educational Equity and Resilience (PEER) project, with funding support from Save the Children Korea in July 2021.

In collaboration with the Provincial Department of Education, Youth, and Sport, the PEER project provided Ms. Sreynech with training on teaching methods and the production and use of teaching materials. This training allowed her to improve her teaching techniques, engage students more effectively, and collaborate with school administrators, teachers, and committees to develop school plans.

In response to the support and her dream of becoming a role model teacher, Ms. Sreynech registered for the annual "Good Teacher" competition, which evaluated candidates based on their performance, work results, and dedication. However, she failed twice and blamed herself.

“I felt heartbroken every time I failed. I was told to give up and stop wasting time and effort on that. I kept on questioning myself for not being good enough. Sometimes, I cried alone,” Ms. Sreynech spoke with tears.

Despite these initial setbacks, her dedication and hard work paid off. In the academic year 2022-2023, with the encouragement of the school principal and the continued support of the PEER project team, Ms. Sreynech participated in the competition for the third time. Finally, she won the Good Teacher Award for Khmer Literature for grades 1, 2, and 3. “I finally won, proving to everyone that you should never give up and keep going until you achieve your goals,” she said.

Mr. Chou Sokhem, Principal of Ang Serei Primary School, believes Ms. Sreynech is a highly potential teacher. Her accomplishments have brought the school and community national recognition and funding support​ from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

“The school will receive an additional education budget of 10 million riels per year from this award. We will utilize this budget to purchase teaching and learning materials and school repairs,” according to Mr. Sokhem.

Ms. El Lika, the head of the Classroom Management Committee, expressed her appreciation for Ms. Sreynech's positive influence on her and her child​. She also acknowledged that the project's intervention helped parents and caregivers realise the importance of their involvement in supporting the school and children. “My child is currently in grade 4 and is a student of Ms. Sreynech. He has improved his study habits, reading skills, and behaviour. I am truly delighted to witness this progress,” Ms. Lika remarked.

“I have taken on the role of leading the Classroom Management Committee and have become more involved in school activities to encourage participation from all parents. I recognize that the education of young children depends not only on schools and teachers but also on the involvement of all caregivers to support children's learning,” she added.

Moving forward, Ms. Sreynech stated that she will continue supporting children in her community with effective learning while enhancing her capacity.

Interviewed by:Sok Seng, Project Officer
Written by: Taing Vida - Communications and Campaign Specialist
Proofread by: Chin Kethya, Donor Reporting Specialist
Photography: Yous Ratha, Communications Officer