Cambodia has achieved improvements in education services at all levels, particularly in early childhood education, where enrolments among five-year-old children increased from 10 to 70 per cent. At the primary education level, enrolment jumped 125 per cent, while lower secondary enrolment was up by 70.
The 2024 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) regional assessment was conducted over the past decade.
Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, drew attention to the positive results during the December 22 opening of the public forum on the 2025 Education Budget and the launch of the SEA-PLM report.
The results showed a notable increase at the upper secondary level, rising from 20 to 45 per cent, while dropout rates declined to 6 per cent at the primary level and around 15 in secondary. In the current academic year, more than 330,000 students were enrolled in secondary education nationwide.
Among countries that participated in both SEA-PLM assessment cycles, Cambodian students ranked fourth in reading and mathematics of the countries that participated in the assessment cycle, behind Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
“Cambodia has significantly increased investment in both the hard and soft components of education, ranging from school infrastructure to teacher training, textbook provision and the adoption of modern teaching methodologies,” concluded the assessment.
The education minister shared his appreciation for education personnel at all levels, as well as government institutions and development partners for their vital contributions to advancing education reform, noting that these collective efforts have produced numerous commendable achievements over the past decade.
He instructed the heads of the ministry’s departments to continue strengthening institutional capacity, particularly leadership skills and ownership of responsibilities. He emphasised the importance of effective and intelligent human resource management, as well as providing opportunities and training for the next generation of educators.
Chuon Naron stressed the need to strengthen teaching methodologies, especially for low-performing students, and encouraged officials to engage directly with classrooms and schools.
Additionally, he called for enhanced classroom management practices, urging each unit to develop clear action plans, improve understanding of the Khmer language, Khmer language instruction, professional teaching standards, and teacher pedagogy.
“To improve efficiency and effectiveness, all units must share information, learn from one another, reach consensus and continue strong cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve new collective results,” he said.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to deep, system-wide reforms that demands higher standards, stronger accountability and more strategic use of public resources.
Cambodian students, the ministry emphasised, must learn from well-motivated, highly qualified teachers who deliver effective instruction, engage in continuous professional development and demonstrate full commitment to students’ learning.
The ministry pledged to lead these reforms with commitment, transparency and responsiveness.
