Shortage of Cambodian Qualified Teachers Pave Way for Expat Teachers in the Kingdom

Photo Credit: Expat Advisory

One will only need to read adverts on educational institutions in Cambodia's classified adds to know that there is a huge vacancy for Cambodian qualified teachers. This undeniable reality paves way for expat teachers. Even backpackers who do not have license or qualification to teach are employed because of the color of their skin and English being their native language. This scenario is slowly changing, however. 

For almost two decades, expats and native English speakers have been filling up this vacancy. Cambodia has emerged from its genocide history to be a home for over 80, 000 foreigners legally working/living in the kingdom by which many are teachers. 

The presence of hundreds expat teachers in many of the private schools and universities in Cambodia shows shortage of Cambodian teachers. These expats are not taking away the jobs meant for Cambodians; they are here because there is huge gap that needs filling. Someday, the gap will be filled by qualified Cambodians. Hopefully, not far from today. 

One particular preschool and primary school in Phnom Penh, The Learning Lab (TLL), which only hires Cambodian teachers for the purpose of empowering the locals, continually struggles for the shortage of Cambodian applicants. Because they don't employ expats, seeking qualified Cambodian teachers has always been a challenge.  

Equipping and empowering Cambodians for future leadership and teaching positions are necessary. Cambodian youth also need to climb the ladder of education professionally and academically to be at the competitive edge in the workplace.  If change has to take place in the educational scene, the Cambodian Government has to prioritize and put more effort in preparing and developing its constituency in the educational arena.