PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s education sector has begun implementing the “Computational Thinking Education Programme”, an initiative designed to foster logical and systematic thinking among students.
The programme helps children break down complex problems, identify patterns and develop structured solutions, with the goal of transforming them from technology users into creators of future digital innovations.
The CoolThink@JC programme has achieved notable success in Hong Kong, where it was incorporated into the core curriculum of all public primary schools in 2023. It was officially launched in Cambodia on June 6, alongside the opening of training courses for master trainers from participating schools. The ceremony was presided over Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron.
Naron welcomed Jackson Woo, chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, along with a high-level delegation from Hong Kong, who travelled to Cambodia to witness the launch of what he described as a “meaningful partnership supporting digital education development in the Kingdom”.
The minister praised the education ministry’s Department of Digital Transformation for its collaboration with the Hong Kong foundation since the June 2025 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
The cooperation successfully produced Khmer translations and adaptations of all three levels of the CoolThink@JC curriculum, including materials for both students and teachers.
He said the official rollout of the programme in primary schools represented a clear sign of progress, noting that digital transformation in education remains one of the ministry’s highest priorities in achieving sustainable digital and STEM education goals.
“The decision to introduce computational thinking education into primary schools is a sharp strategic step in the ministry’s digital education reform agenda,” Naron said.
“As the world moves rapidly toward the age of artificial intelligence, Cambodia must shift its education model away from rote memorisation towards scientific thinking and problem-solving,” he added.
He explained that the reform aims to establish digital literacy from the earliest stages of education and build a sustainable educational ecosystem. Teaching children computational thinking at a young age helps develop highly logical thought processes, which are essential for understanding and utilizing artificial intelligence technologies in the future.
According to the minister, strengthening digital competencies at the primary level will also serve as a bridge toward the future introduction of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum at the secondary school level, which the ministry plans to implement under its long-term strategic framework.
When students gain strong foundations in scientific thinking and basic coding during primary school, he noted, they will be better prepared to study more advanced subjects such as AI systems, data analytics, and automation technologies in secondary education.
“This is a long-term, systematic investment in human capital that will help transform Cambodia into a vibrant digital economy and digital society, in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy,” he said.
“It begins by transforming traditional chalkboard classrooms into intelligent and innovative digital learning environments,” he added.
Naron stressed that computational thinking education is not simply about learning how to code or use computers. Rather, it promotes “logical and systematic thinking” by teaching children to break down complex problems (decomposition), recognize patterns, and develop step-by-step solutions.
“I believe the CoolThink@JC programme is ideally suited for primary school students because it encourages creativity and helps change our children from consumers of technology into creators of future digital innovations,” he said.
He reiterated that building digital skills from primary school will provide a strong foundation for the ministry’s planned AI curriculum at the secondary level.
The education ministry noted that by adapting a globally recognized and proven curriculum for Cambodia’s public schools, officials believe the initiative will strengthen cooperation, knowledge exchange, technological transfer and shared experience between the two regions.
The ministry emphasised its commitment to narrowing the digital divide and ensuring that all children have equal access to educational opportunities.
Woo said that The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has long been committed to charitable initiatives aimed at improving society, with quality education remaining one of its core priorities.
He expressed hope that the Computational Thinking Education Programme will help children across Cambodia acquire essential computational and analytical skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
