School Health Development Project for All Cambodian ChildrenNewsletterVol. 5

Issued date: May 10th , 2022

Greeting from School health Department of MoEYS
I would like to thank professors of Tokyo Gakugei University (TGU),
lecturers of Teacher Education College (TEC) and SHCC team fororganizing this training. I am also very grateful for your support inpreparing the health subject syllabus and textbooks for TEC.
Since 2018, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS)
has been working on textbooks for teachers and students for primary
to upper secondary school curriculum in School Health subjects. Weare currently reviewing the second draft version.
We are now taking health education in MoEYS more seriously. In
particular, with the current state of the new coronavirus infections. Inaddition, the goal of the School Health Department is about health.
Therefore, it is very good to know the importance of health as well as
to be able to practice it in our daily lives. I think this is a good way toprepare future school health teachers and students.

Dr. SO Chhavyroth
Vice Director, School Health
Department

In short, it is very important for both TECs to be involved in this project, as the TEC lecturers areapparently like parents to the student teachers. They also play the role in promoting what the student
teachers has learnt in school after graduation.
I would like to express my acknowledgement to The Nippon Foundation for their support throughout
the years. This project has only just begun, so we would like to ask for your support in providing thenecessary hardware and software for the school, as well as other materials that will make the healthlessons more effective. Of course, learning is a good thing, but without practice, it is not as effective as it
could be. Especially, I would like to encourage the TEC lecturers to promote School Health classes as ahealthy model for lifestyle and hygiene management.

School Health 6th Training Report

MASUKO Yuuka

School Health 6th Training was held from 7th to 9th February 2022. This was our first face-to-facetraining in two years since the first training on March 2020. Among all the participants from Cambodia
side, 18 were lecturers and management team from Teacher Education College (TEC) in Phnom Penh andBattambang. The training was conducted face-to-face and online simultaneously while the Japanese wereattending via zoom.
The two main topics focused on “Drug use andthe impact of health” and “Mental Health”. The
training was carried on for three days: two-days
lectures and group discussion at HIMAWARI Hotel,
plus one-day field study at new economic SOSORO
museum of Cambodia. After a long period of online
training due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
participants were very excited and active in learningand discussion. Finally, the first School Healthlecture will start at the end of April 2022 for student
teachers at TEC. All lecturers are willing to learn andThe scene of 1st day group work:
teach the School Health subject.
creating poster about drug abuse

The scene of 2nd day training
at HIMAWARI Hotel

The scene of field study
at SOSORO museum

From fieldtrip report-We are happy and surprised to learn that there is this type of good museum like this in
Cambodia. We will remember and recommend this place to others.
-We can also arrange a short paragraph to explain the background and history of TEC since
the beginning until now.
-Through to this field trip, we find that it is important
for all trainers because it allows us to get to know andlearn about history, development of Khmer currency
Since Funan period. In addition, through this field, thetrainers have an opportunity to strengthen theirfriendships, doing group work, and sharing experience
to each other. Finally, all of us as trainers would like tothank Nippon Foundation through Tokyo Gakugei
University in organizing this meaningful field trip.

New uniform of the project
SHCC project’s new uniform has come! We started to wear the new two colors’ uniform from the lasttraining. We think uniform is very important for unite our minds for success to achieve the goal of theproject. Both of dark and sky blues means nature in our earth, so as sea, river and sky, because SHCC
project has eco-health concept that human health is closely related to the natural environment.

Contributor of SHCC project
Social Compass is a designer and artist organization that seeks to solve
social issues through the power of art. They created all of illustration of theSchool Health textbook for TEC including cover page’s design and SHCC
project’s logo. Social Compass is not so big, yet consisting of exquisite team
who has produced a number of highly quality works. Mr. Nakamura, thedirector, has recently published a children's picture book on the theme ofthe SDGs in Cambodia.
◀ Cover page of textbook for primary education course◀ Thanks picture bookThank you, Picture Book. “Watty" of Angkor Wat and the World
Heritage Site characters will teach us how to say "thank you"around the world in line with the SDGs goals. It is available freeof charge to anyone who is interested.
( NAKAMURA Hidetaka, Founder of Social Compass)

Mr. NAKAMURA Hidetakawith Social Compass colleagues

Project’s student supporter
HARA Ayuri
1st Year Student
I join this project to learn about cultures, various ways of thinking, and school
health. I look forward to seeing you in person and working together!

TANAKA Miu
1st Year Student
I have never been abroad, and I really want to. I joined the project because I
want to see and know the world that is not Japan. I hope the day will come when
I can visit Cambodia!

TADA Kaoru
3rd Year Student
I practice Kyudo at university. Kyudo is a traditional Japanese sport in which bows
and arrows are used. I’m participating in this project because I’m interested inculture and education outside of Japan. I'd like to know more about Cambodia,
and I really want to go to Cambodia someday!

School health class will begin at TECs in April
School health lessons will finally start in April at PTEC
and BTEC for Year 4 teacher students of the primaryteacher training course. The challenge of mandating
school health education for all students, who will beprimary school teachers, is an unprecedented newDr. ASAKURA Takashi
initiative in the world. It has not been realized in Japan
Project Manager,either. Cambodia will become the first country in theProfessor,
world to guarantee health and education for all
Tokyo Gakugei Universitychildren.
Health education at school is not limited to sex education, drug education, health examinations
and first aid. Health education is education for exploring a healthy way of living and creating a safe andpeaceful society. It is an education to bring up children with humanness (empathy, caring, and dignity)
to realize it. There is not always one correct answer, and there can be various correct answers.
Therefore, it is health education at school that teachers and students learn together through dialoguerather than one-way teaching. Let's tell this to PTEC and BTEC students.
I've trained you chapters about half of the textbook so far, but that's still not enough. The abilityof the lecturers in charge still needs to be developed. The success of the challenge in Cambodia will bea model for ASEAN countries. To that end, let's continue to work together and to create better lessons.
Let's keep learning.

Mental health of young people

SUZUKI Haruka

One of topics for 6th training was “Mental health” and we discussed about when Cambodian college
students feel stress. I found an interesting survey on stress of young Japanese (age 17-19) during thepandemic that was conducted by The Nippon Foundation in 2021. According to results, 50.4% ofanswerers said they were feeling cooped-up during the pandemic and they experienced following
things: “They can’t spend free time as they like”, “Their school life became different from normal” and“It became difficult to see family, boyfriend/girlfriend, and friends who live faraway”. Most of answerers
who experienced these things felt stress (Table.1).
Table.1 Things they experienced during the pandemic
They can’t spend free time as they like.
Their school life became different from normal because of remort learning.
It became difficult to see family, boyfriend/girlfriend and friends who live faraway.

Experienced
48.3%
42.8%
32.6%

Felt stress
91.9%
71.3%
88.7%

Their lifestyle had changed a lot because of the pandemic. For example, 71.8% of answerers said thetime using smartphone was increasing. This survey shows that about one in three of answerers
continued sense of uneasiness and irritation, fatigue, difficulty thinking and concentrating.
Source: Awareness Survey of 18 year-olds -Coronavirus and Stress
https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/en/news/articles/2021/20210325-55959.html

SUZUKI Haruka
Project Coordinator,SHCC Office, Japan

I would like to inform you that I’m leaving Tokyo Gakugei University. I have nothad enough opportunities to visit Cambodia because of the pandemic since thelast visit in March 2020. Honestly I wanted to talk to Cambodian teachers inperson and learn more about Cambodia from you. However I could see you andcommunicate with you through online meetings and trainings. These two years
is my special memory. It was a pleasure working with you all. Finally, I respect
your sincere attitude and passion towards leaning new things. I hope thisproject and School Health in Cambodia go well! Thank you so much.