School Performance Evaluation through Systemic School
Inspection in Cambodia

Chansean Mam1 , Eva Lanteli2 , Juntaro Kato3 , Tsutomu Iwayama3 , Hideki Shimizu3
(1. Graduate School of Education, Aichi University of Education & Shizuoka University, Japan;
2. Former trainer of inspector trainers in Cambodia, Sweden; 3. Aichi University of Education, Japan)

Abstract: Systemic school inspection has been implemented widely in Cambodia since 2015 as a way to improve school quality and raising student performance. The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of how systemic school inspection may contribute to enhance school performances. The paper utilized the ideas and information from more than 73% school inspectors of the total 109 inspectors in the whole country. Questionnaires were designed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The findings show that systemic school inspection plays a role in evaluating school performance but it is not the deciding factor when it comes to improving school quality and raising student performance. Through systemic school inspection it has been revealed that basic factors for school quality such as relevant equipment and school material as well as a an improved teaching methodology need to be in place in order to improve school quality and raising student performance. Systemic school inspection is a good approach to check school quality, but it is not enough to improve the quality. In order to do that the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports in cooperation with national and international development partners should take measures structurally and monetary in order to deal with the problems revealed by the systemic inspections.

Key words: school performance, systemic school inspection, regular inspection, thematic inspection, science education