Background
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) is advancing a targeted digital education policy to support the government’s first-phase human resource development strategy and to integrate STEM skills into secondary schooling through practical, project-based learning. Pursat province was selected as the national pilot for the Game Changers Coalition with 17 target high schools.
The Department of Digital Transformation, working with UNICEF, organized a two-stage capacity-building approach that combines a school-management orientation and hands-on technical courses for club leaders. The orientation engaged 24 school-management participants (including two women), and the subsequent technical training provided in-depth game-development instruction to 34 club leaders (including six women).
Key Developments
MoEYS designated Pursat as the model province for the 2026 academic year because of local leadership commitment and existing digital infrastructure at selected schools. The programme introduced an orientation workshop for school management aimed at clarifying GCC objectives, implementation plans and mechanisms for designating ICT focal teachers and establishing digital learning clubs. Technical modules for club leaders covered game design, coding, game art and use of artificial intelligence tools to support idea generation and character design.
Operational Implications
At the school level, administrators were guided to formalize oversight roles and to appoint lead teachers who will coordinate club activities and integrate game-based projects into ICT classes and extracurricular time. Trained club leaders received pedagogical guidance on project-based instruction, student mentorship and methods for sustaining after-school digital clubs. The programme’s operational model relies on school-management commitment, designated teacher-leaders, and phased training to move from pilot to routine classroom and club practice.
