Today was a real celebration as we introduced the concept of Learning Walks to fourteen primary school directors in the Leadership Development program. The directors completed the Learning Walk in their own time outside the scheduled workshop. This Learning Walk incorporated a visit to 2 Thnou Primary School in Battambang with an enrolment of 3103 students.

Directors were asked to note some effective elements in the school organisation and teaching and learning as they walked through the school. They then provided this feedback to the school director and each participant in the group agreed to try one strategy in their own school that they had observed on their Learning Walks

2 Thnou is the biggest primary school in the province of Battambang with seventy-eight classes and ninety-six staff. It is seen as a model school. The Director shared many excellent management techniques with the group and he took great pleasure in showing us around this well run school. The directors noted the positive relationships between the director, teachers and students, the classroom organisation and the pleasing state of the classrooms and grounds.

The grade one reading program particularly impressed the participants. Students are given extra support if they need it to ensure a strong foundation in reading. Many directors said that they were going to try to introduce the idea of more support for students in grade one reading.

For many directors this was their first opportunity to visit a school and focus on observing teaching and looking at effective management. Collegial Learning Walks reinforce the notion that the best learning occurs when we share ideas and see effective models of the way work in schools can be done. This was a first in Battambang and hopefully is the beginning of opening up schools and classes.