A new report on teaching hours in primary school has identified three main “causes” (i.e., “factors”) of lost time in mainstream school. The first is too many school holidays (or students/teachers taking additional days off during holidays), teacher absences from mainstream schooling, and shortening of lessons by teachers. Note first how blame is placed on teachers. Note second how the common practice of private tutoring is not identified as a factor. I’m keen to see the research report’s methods — particularly how questions were asked. This will help understand how these “factors” were identified, which ones were included, excluded, and why.

At the launch event, Education Minister Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, ensured the ministry of education, youth, and sport will address the issue of teaching hours by strengthening regulations:

We will form a working group to intervene in this case in order to strengthen teacher hours and the school regulations.

I’ll review the report’s methods once I get my hands on the actual report.