Synopsis: The government allocates $1.1 billion to rebuild damaged border facilities, expand digital infrastructure and reduce student dropout rates.

Prime Minister Hun Manet has outlined 16 priority tasks to improve education quality in the 2026–2027 academic year, focusing on school reforms, teacher training, digital learning and support systems for students.

In his congratulatory message marking the start of the new academic year yesterday, he described the day as a milestone for students nationwide, particularly those entering pre-school and primary education.

He instructed the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to expand enrolment and reduce dropout rates by building schools, adding classrooms and providing laboratories, libraries and digital infrastructure in underserved areas.

He also called for the implementation of model school standards, including play-based learning at pre-school level, stronger early-grade literacy and mathematics, targeted support for struggling primary students, and greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in secondary schools.

He urged the modernisation of textbooks and improvements in student assessments to foster analytical thinking skills.

Regarding border communities, Mr Hun Manet requested the restoration of education infrastructure damaged during the Cambodia-Thailand conflict to provide safe learning environments. He urged authorities to help children returning from Thailand or living in safety camps to enrol in schools.

On career guidance, he instructed the education and labour ministries to continue implementing the “New Education Pathways in Cambodia” programme, which offers career counselling from Grade 7, vocational tracks from Grade 10 and academic streaming in Grade 11.

For teacher development, Mr Hun Manet called for upgraded qualifications and training in foreign languages, digital tools, research and artificial intelligence applications.

He highlighted the need for stronger school monitoring, inclusive education for children with special needs, and improved hygiene, healthcare and safety. School management teams and teachers were instructed to maintain discipline by arriving before students and leaving after them.

Mr Hun Manet called on parents to monitor children’s progress, encourage home reading and limit social media exposure. He encouraged students to study hard, develop practical skills and avoid negative influences.

He commended the Education Ministry and educators for ongoing reforms, citing improvements in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2024 and Programme for International Student Assessment 2025.

Mr Hun Manet noted that the 2027 education budget will increase by 4.7% from 2026 to approximately $1.1 billion.

SEA-PLM 2024 results revealed that Grade 5 reading proficiency rose from 27% in 2019 to 39% in 2024, while mathematics proficiency increased from 39% to 62%. Low proficiency levels dropped from 47% to 37% in reading and from 36% to 20% in mathematics. The assessment surveyed 6,574 students across 195 schools nationwide, though results showed students from lower-income households continue to lag behind wealthier peers.

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