From Learners to Creators: Empowering Cambodian Youth with Digital and AI Literacy in Secondary Schools

As Cambodia navigates its digital transformation agenda, integrating digital and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy into secondary education has become an urgent national imperative. This study examines effective ways to integrate digital and AI skills into the curriculum for students ages 13 to 18. It begins by discussing the broader picture of society and technology, and how ready high school pupils are to learn. Then the paper discusses how vital it is for kids to learn to use computers, think like a computer, and understand AI so they are equipped for civic involvement, academic research, and the ever-changing job market. Looking closely at Cambodia's current education system reveals numerous flaws, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient content, and unprepared teachers. The paper recommends effective, acceptable ways to teach, grounded in research and best practices from around the world. Project-based learning, blending diverse subjects, and employing digital tools that can change are some of these strategies. It also discusses flaws in the system, such as overly divergent rules, a lack of professional development, and cultural barriers to adopting technology. The study offers many strategic ways to address these issues, such as making minor curriculum changes, offering teachers national accreditation, forming collaborations between the public and commercial sectors, and establishing clusters of young people who want to innovate. In the last part of the article, the author advocates a long-term, collaborative vision in which Cambodian high school students are not merely passive users of technology but also ethical, creative innovators who make a meaningful difference in the country's development.

Keywords: Digital literacy, Cambodian secondary schools, curriculum reform, digital equity