Teachers as Catalysts of Cambodia's AI Transformation on World Teachers' Day 2025

Teachers Lead Cambodia's AI Transformation on World Teachers' Day 2025

Phnom Penh, 5 October 2025 - AI and digital technologies are changing how people learn, work, and live. This year's World Teachers' Day in Cambodia puts educators at the centre with the theme, "Teacher is the catalyst of AI transformation." The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and UNESCO marked the national celebration at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh, presided by H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, and Ms. Esther McFarlane, Chief of Education at UNESCO Phnom Penh. More than 1,200 teachers, education leaders, and partners attended.

Why this theme matters

Technology by itself does not improve learning-teachers do. The theme recognizes educators as the decisive factor in how AI and digital tools are used ethically and effectively in classrooms. It affirms a human-centred approach that supports inclusion, equity, and strong pedagogy, consistent with Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy - Phase I, where human development and digital transformation are core pillars of national progress.

From vision to practice: Cambodia's ICT-AI Competency Framework for Teachers

To make digital transformation real in schools, MoEYS is developing Cambodia's first ICT-AI Competency Framework for Teachers. The initiative is supported by UNESCO through the $27.02 million Strengthening Teacher Education Programmes in Cambodia (STEPCam), financed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Informed by UNESCO's global ICT (2018) and AI (2024) competency frameworks, the national framework will clarify the skills teachers need to integrate digital tools and AI in ways that protect student wellbeing and keep the human connection at the heart of learning.

• Digital pedagogy that improves engagement, assessment, and feedback
• AI literacy for lesson preparation, differentiation, and formative assessment
• Ethics, data privacy, and safe, responsible classroom use
• Inclusion-first design that supports diverse learners and reduces bias

Collaboration makes it work

The international theme, "Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession," reinforces a simple truth: strong teaching grows through teamwork. In partnership with UNESCO, MoEYS continues to scale teacher mentoring, continuous professional development (CPD), research grants for teacher-led inquiry, and communities of practice that spread effective methods across schools and provinces.

Leaders' perspectives

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron emphasized that teachers drive Cambodia's digital transformation. With the right skills and safeguards, AI can help teachers plan lessons, personalize learning, and open practical learning opportunities for students.

Ms. Esther McFarlane highlighted that educators are shaping how tools are applied in classrooms. Investment in mentoring, research, and ongoing professional development keeps teachers in the driver's seat so technology supports their work rather than replacing it.

What school and system leaders can do now

• Set clear school policies for responsible AI use (data privacy, academic integrity, age-appropriate tools).
• Pilot AI-assisted lesson planning and feedback routines with small teacher teams, then share results.
• Use CPD time for AI micro-learning and peer coaching focused on specific classroom tasks.
• Launch or strengthen communities of practice to exchange lesson plans, prompts, and assessment ideas.
• Track impact with simple indicators: student engagement, assessment quality, and teacher workload.

About STEPCam

STEPCam is one of Cambodia's largest teacher education programmes with a total investment of USD $27.02 million by GPE. Implemented by UNESCO and MoEYS, it strengthens the full teacher development pathway-from pre-service preparation to career progression, CPD, mentoring for classroom practice, and system-wide approaches to ICT in education to improve teaching and learning quality.

Learn more about the Global Partnership for Education here: Global Partnership for Education.

Event highlight

The national celebration at the National Institute of Education brought together more than 1,200 teachers, system leaders, and partners to recognize teacher leadership in AI-enabled teaching and to advance collaborative professional learning across Cambodia.

Contacts for STEPCam

H.E. Dr. Lim Sothea, Director General of Policy and Planning, MoEYS - Tel: 012 535 617, Email: lim.sothea@moeys.gov.kh
Sopha Ang, STEPCam Project Officer, UNESCO Phnom Penh - Tel: 012 982 117, Email: s.ang@unesco.org

For educators: practical upskilling

If you're building AI skills for teaching, explore curated learning paths by role: AI courses by job. You can also review new, credible programmes here: Latest AI courses.

The 2025 World Teachers' Day celebration reaffirms the shared commitment of MoEYS and UNESCO to listen to teachers, grow their professional capacity, and position them as catalysts of AI transformation across Cambodia's education system.