https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/WalkBeyondBorders2025MaireandLeo

I have been working with SeeBeyondBorders for many years both as a research collaborator and more recently as their volunteer academic advisor. SeeBeyondBorders is firmly focused on addressing the education crisis in Cambodia by enhancing teacher capability through in-service professional development.

Cambodian education has been in crisis since the awful killing regime of Khmer Rouge (1975-1979) and subsequent civil wars up to the turn of the millennium. These events devastated the knowledge base for teaching and learning across the whole country. Schools are still feeling the effects today:

• 65% of teachers in Cambodia do not have a formal teaching degree.
• By the age of fifteen, 97% of children are unable to demonstrate proficiency in literacy and maths.

Without substantial improvement of teaching and school leadership the education prospects for children in Cambodia are extremely bleak. Research has established a clear link between the quality of teaching and the educational outcomes for children. Our research on enhancing teaching in Cambodia means we have a good understanding of how what needs to be done. We now need to put in place the people and infrastructure to achieve this at scale.

You can help! Máire and I are participating in the WalkBeyondBorders to raise funds to support education in Cambodia. We kindly ask you to consider making a donation to support the work of SeeBeyondBorders. Every little helps to ensure a better future for the children of Cambodia and a better world for all of us!