Inside the Secondary Classroom: Harrods Hosts Immersive Parent Engagement Workshop
PHNOM PENH, March 5, 2026 — Education in the secondary years often becomes more complex and abstract, making it harder for parents to stay connected to their child’s daily progress. To bridge this gap, Harrods International Academy recently hosted an interactive workshop that allowed parents to trade places with their children and experience the modern HIA teaching approach firsthand.
Beyond the Lecture: Active Learning in Action
The workshop moved away from traditional presentations, instead placing parents into “hands-on” scenarios that define the Harrods secondary experience:
- Inquiry-Based Learning: Parents engaged in activities that required them to ask “why” and “how,” simulating the curiosity-driven environment students navigate daily.
- Applied Concepts: Instead of rote memorization, participants explored how students apply mathematical or scientific theories to real-world problem-solving.
- Critical Thinking Exercises: Collaborative tasks demonstrated how HIA encourages students to analyze information, challenge assumptions, and participate actively in discussions.
Strengthening the Home-School Partnership
From our perspective at Schools Cambodia, this workshop is a strategic move to align parental expectations with 21st-century educational standards:
- Empathy for the Learner: By stepping into the classroom, parents gain a deeper appreciation for the intellectual and social demands placed on secondary students.
- Consistent Support: Understanding the “Harrods Method” allows parents to reinforce the same critical thinking skills and study habits at home.
- Community Engagement: These events build a strong network of families who are equally committed to the high standards of a Harrods education.
We thank the parents who participated for their enthusiasm and dedication. At Harrods, the learning journey is a shared path, and having parents walk that path—even for a day—makes all the difference.