Synopsis: Prime Minister Hun Manet announces gradual expansion of extended school hours for all primary schools to focus on core subjects.

Nearly 200 primary schools piloted extended classroom hours from four to six hours in 2026, with initial results indicating better academic performance among students compared with those attending school for only four hours a day.

The programme will be expanded gradually, in line with improvements in school infrastructure and other necessary preparations to ensure effective teaching and learning.

Speaking at the launch of a school building in Kampong Thom province yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Manet said the pilot programme has shown encouraging signs of improvement in the quality of student learning, particularly when compared with the standard four-hour school day.

He said the programme is evaluated based on the performance of students with lower academic scores to assess how longer study hours could improve their knowledge and learning abilities.

He added that extending school hours was not simply about increasing the amount of time students spent in classrooms, but about ensuring that they acquired better knowledge and skills.

Mr Hun Manet said the government will gradually expand the programme through a targeted, school-based approach. The long-term objective is to extend school hours to six across all 12 years of general education.

While the programme cannot be introduced simultaneously across all 10,000 schools because of infrastructure capacity and teacher availability, extended school hours could be achieved using existing resources with proper planning to ensure the additional time genuinely benefits students, he said.

Prime Minister Hun Manet (4-L) at the opening of school buildings at Triel High School in Kampong Thom province yesterday. KT/Khem Sovannara

He added that the extra study hours should focus on core subjects, particularly Khmer language and mathematics, to strengthen students’ foundational knowledge. Spending more time at school could also reduce the amount of unsupervised free time while encouraging them to participate in productive educational activities.

Mr Hun Manet said the construction of new schools and expansion of facilities would take into account population growth and the needs of the local communities. He stressed that the policy cannot be implemented effectively without adequate infrastructure and a sufficient number of teachers.

Meanwhile, 1,114 schools have introduced a breakfast programme as of 2026, benefiting approximately 300,000 students.

The initiative not only improves children’s nutrition but also creates economic opportunities for local communities and farmers by allowing them to supply agricultural products to schools.

Mr Hun Manet said the 2027 education budget would increase by 4.7% compared with 2026, reaching approximately $1.1 billion.

He outlined priority measures to improve education quality in the 2026–2027 academic year, focusing on school reforms, teacher development, digital learning and stronger support systems for students.

In a congratulatory message on Sunday to mark the start of the new academic year, he described the occasion as an important milestone for students, particularly those beginning pre-school and primary education.

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

Mr Hun Manet called for the implementation of model school standards, including play-based learning at pre-school level, stronger literacy and numeracy skills in the early grades, targeted support for struggling primary school students and greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at secondary level.

He urged the modernisation of textbooks and improvements to student assessment systems to encourage analytical thinking.

He stressed the importance of stronger school monitoring, inclusive education for children with special needs, and better hygiene, healthcare and safety standards. School management teams and teachers were instructed to maintain discipline by arriving in school before the students and leaving after them.

Hang Chhavorn, a lower secondary school teacher, said extending school hours could give students more time to learn and practise exercises. However, she cautioned that more classroom hours alone would not necessarily lead to better academic results.

She noted that the effectiveness of additional study hours depended on the quality of teaching, the curriculum, learning materials, and each school’s ability to address students’ individual needs.

The additional time could be used for remedial lessons, reading practice, completing exercises, and helping students who have difficulty understanding their lessons, particularly in Khmer language and mathematics.

According to data for the 2025–2026 academic year cited by Education, Youth and Sport Minister Hang Chuon Naron, Cambodia has 19,592 general education institutions.

These comprise 9,207 preschools, 8,248 primary schools, 1,360 lower secondary schools, and 957 upper secondary schools. The country also has 49 technical education institutions and 200 higher education institutions, 94 of which are under the management of the Ministry of Education.

The data showed that the number of children aged three to five enrolled in preschool education grew from about 310,000 in the 2014–2015 academic year to around 440,000 in 2025–2026. Of the total enrolled in the most recent academic year, about 220,000 were girls, compared with about 160,000 in 2014–2015.

• Tags: Cambodia, education