Author name: Tola Tem

A delegation from the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport joined TDSO’s Executive Director and trainers for a visit to Lao PDR to review the progress of the Cambodia–Laos teacher exchange programme. The mission followed a four-week residential training in Siem Reap for 20 Lao teachers and trainers last year. Classroom observations and discussions with participants showed encouraging progress, including more structured lessons, improved classroom management, and stronger student engagement, while also creating space for both countries to exchange experiences and identify practical next steps for continued collaboration.

TDSO is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Seng Kimoun as IT Support Specialist. This strategic addition reinforces the organisation’s commitment to strengthening its digital infrastructure and operational efficiency. In this role, he will oversee core IT systems, including learning platforms and internal applications, ensuring secure, reliable, and responsive technical support for staff and trainees. As TDSO continues to expand its national engagement and professional development services, robust technology systems remain essential to quality delivery. This appointment reflects a deliberate investment in sustainable systems that enable effective training, data management, and organisational growth.

TDSO has begun a one-week professional mission to the Lao PDR, accompanied by the Director of the Department of Teacher Development from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia. The delegation will reconnect with TDSO alumni teachers, observe classroom practice, and document how training has been applied in real school settings. The programme also includes professional exchange with Laos TESOL to share pedagogical approaches and explore opportunities for future collaboration. The visit is guided by a clear objective: to ensure that teacher professional development translates into practical classroom improvement and stronger learning outcomes for students.

The Mobile Book Box Programme provides practical access to English reading materials in low-resource public primary schools through a shared circulation system rather than fixed libraries. Developed by TDSO with the Magic Libraries Foundation, each box contains 150 graded titles with teaching guides, lesson plans, and assessment tools. Boxes rotate on a two-week loan cycle via Provincial English Teacher Centres, linking reading resources directly to teacher training and classroom practice. As the contract teacher training programme expands nationally in 2026, 36 boxes will operate across 18 provinces, reaching approximately 2,000 teachers and 60,000 pupils while maintaining low, sustainable costs.

The Teacher Development Support Organization (TDSO) confirms that participating teachers’ Continuous Professional Development (CPD) credits are now officially recorded in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) CPDMIS system following verification procedures. Marked in the presence of representatives from the Ministry and provincial and district education authorities, the milestone formally recognises teachers’ professional effort and links training to national requirements. Teachers can now access accredited records supporting career progression and stronger classroom practice, reflecting effective cooperation between TDSO and MoEYS and contributing to improved student learning outcomes.

From 06–08 February 2026, the TDSO Annual Staff Retreat offered colleagues a valuable opportunity to step away from routine duties and reconnect as a team. Through shared activities, open conversations and informal evenings, staff strengthened trust and mutual support while reflecting on the organisation’s mission. Guided by the spirit of “one team, one spirit, one direction”, participants returned refreshed and motivated, ready to continue assisting teachers and schools with renewed commitment and positive energy.

As a long-term partner of TDSO, Tauro Stiftung participated in a field visit to the TDSO Practice School and selected rural classrooms to observe TDSO alumni teachers in action. The visit provided first-hand evidence of how learner-centred approaches introduced through TDSO training are sustained and applied in real school environments. Visitors observed active student participation, structured group work, and confident teacher–student interaction.

These observations confirmed that training outcomes extend beyond the training centre, with alumni teachers adapting methodologies to local contexts. The visit reaffirmed the programme’s long-term value in strengthening teaching quality and improving student learning in Cambodia.

This reflection from a school principal captures the impact of the English Teaching Pedagogy Training Programme, marked on 22 January 2026 by the graduation of 21 teachers from the 2024–2025 academic year. Over one year, participants strengthened learner-centred methodologies, practical classroom techniques, and effective ICT integration, with a clear focus on improving classroom practice. These changes have led to observable improvements in student engagement and learning outcomes, aligned with the national English curriculum for Grades 4–6. The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to sustained teacher development.