How the COVID-19 pandemic has taught ISF students transferable skills for a digital world

In celebration of the UN’s World Youth Skills Day, ISF would like to acknowledge the resilience and creativity of youth across the globe.

This year’s theme, “Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic,” explores how young people have lived and innovated through the pandemic’s challenges and how these obstacles will contribute to a more prepared future. 

After the COVID outbreak led to city-wide lockdowns and school closures, 19-year old Theary was one of our students who pivoted to online learning. In Cambodia, many state schools don’t have the finances or resources to offer online classes. Theary recognizes the magnitude of the opportunity to continue learning, but shares that the virtual classroom has introduced new obstacles – like stress from social isolation and trouble focusing due to a poor internet connection.

Fortunately, with the help of our staff, she’s come up with a creative way to battle these challenges. Her teachers have allocated more time to work one-on-one with students who have missed lessons due to an unstable internet connection. With ISF’s data-top ups, she communicates with her teachers and peers via mobile apps like Telegram and gets the support she needs to prepare for her Grade 12 exams.

Before the pandemic, she shares that she didn’t have much experience in technology. In response to the shift to online learning, she’s developed transferable skills – such as using technology to supplement her studies – that she’s excited to implement in a post-pandemic world. She believes that schools will further emphasize using online platforms in classes and is hopeful that the quality and accessibility of online class will continue to improve.

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