Message

Message from Chairperson, School Health Training and Ecohealth Promotion Foundation (STEP)

The following message from the Chairperson explains the thinking behind STEP’s approach and its long-term vision for school health in Cambodia.

I am Takashi Asakura, Chairperson of the School Health Training and Ecohealth Promotion Foundation (STEP).

I believe that improving Cambodian society requires an approach that is neither purely top-down nor purely bottom-up, but rather a middle-up and middle-down approach. In the field of school health education, teacher education colleges can serve as core institutions that propose school health education and teacher training policies to the government, while at the same time dispatching trained teachers to local schools. Through this process, the health of children and communities across the country can be improved. I believe that strengthening this “middle layer” is the key to building a healthier nation, society, and population in Cambodia.

According to our research, currently only about 30% of graduates from teacher education colleges in Cambodia are teaching health-related subjects in schools. To further improve the health of Cambodian children, we aim to increase this percentage in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, as well as teacher education colleges.

With the support of The Nippon Foundation, STEP is implementing Phase 2 of the SHCC Project. Our ultimate goal in this phase is to establish a specialized school health course within the lower secondary school education program at Phnom Penh Teacher Education College and Battambang Teacher Education College. In order to ensure that children—who will shape the future of the nation—grow up healthy, it is essential to train teachers who can provide comprehensive school health education.

In addition, we will undertake new initiatives, including support for the introduction of school health education at newly established teacher education colleges and the enhancement of school health teaching practicums at attached schools. We will also continue to provide school health training for lecturers, as we have done to date. Achieving these goals will not be possible without the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and teacher education colleges in Cambodia, as well as financial and other forms of support from The Nippon Foundation and other partners.

Looking ahead, STEP also aims to expand its school health support initiatives, particularly in ASEAN countries. We sincerely appreciate the understanding, cooperation, and support of everyone who visits this website.