Following a year of developing the Violent Past Teaching Manual, the TSGM team is currently focusing on supporting student-centered approaches in history education through the use of new teaching methodologies. Every year, more history teachers will be encouraged to be trained and use the manual.
During the genocide in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, the Khmer Rouge regime killed 1.7 to 2.2 million people, causing physical and mental suffering. The educational sector was almost destroyed, with many teachers killed during the Khmer Rouge revolution. Many schools were turned into prisons or detention centres, including the former Tuol Svay Prey High School, now known as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM). Today, only 62% of current high school history teachers with Khmer Rouge history backgrounds teach, mostly in rural areas. In 2022, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum confirmed over 50 teachers from 20 provinces, showing their willingness to learn new teaching methods and actively participate in student learning activities.
This project is part of the long-term mission of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (TSGM), which was initiated with the support of EdJAM in 2022 with our project: Disconcerting past – History education on mass atrocities .
In 2023, TSGM continues to further develop and implement our 2022 project and aims to:
- ensure the continuation of the use of the teaching methods according to the Violent Past Teaching Manual
strengthen teachers’ skills by applying new approaches to actively engage - students/pupils in the study of the violent past
- encourage the teachers to share their teaching experiences and new ideas
- facilitate feedback on the new teaching methods.
The project will contribute to:
- creative history teaching method by the teachers
- the active study of history that goes beyond the textbooks
- bringing students/pupils to be engaged learners, curious about their family stories, and to have more dialogue among the family and relatives
- the historical discussions between teachers and students, children and parents, parents or grandparents as a means for reconciliation
- the implementation of the student-centered policy of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport
“Before, my students were not much actively participating in class and their knowledge of history was limited. Myself, I didn’t have any materials and the space of my classroom too small. After applying teaching in manual, I saw that the students become more active in discussions together with their friends. I was really surprised to see my class full of dialogue and participation by students”.
Ms. Chai Sokleng, History teacher of Hun Sen Trasek Korng High School, Kampot province.
Meet the team:
Results
Learn more about this project
Publications, CurriculumDisconcerting past – History education on mass atrocities
How can we encourage more interactive ways of learning about mass atrocities? Our process engages history teachers in exploring student-centred methods…
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