Cambodia faces challenges in reforming its education system

According to the 2025 update report of the World Population Review, an independent organization that analyzes human development, population, and education indicators, Cambodia ranked 120th out of 203 countries and territories surveyed, showing that the country's education system is facing major challenges.

According to the list, within the Southeast Asian region, Singapore is in the leading position in education, followed by Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, then the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and finally Cambodia.

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However, Cambodian education is also highly regarded with a literacy rate of up to 84% according to survey data collected in 2020, of which in the group over 15 years old, this rate is nearly 88%, a sharp increase compared to more than 77% in 2008.

Khmer Times newspaper quoted Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports spokesman Khuon Vichheka as saying that the ministry will review in more detail the World Population Review's ranking results, especially the assessment method and data sources used.

An education expert in Cambodia, Dr. Quach Mengly, said that compared to a few years ago, Cambodian education has improved significantly. However, compared to the current general situation in other countries, the rate of improvement in education quality in Cambodia is showing signs of slowing down due to lack of investment in modernization and application of high technology in the education sector.

Dr. Mengly stressed that Cambodia needs to step up investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education to ensure it does not fall behind other countries in education.

Notably, this expert expressed the view that priority should be given to equipping students under 9-10 years old with the ability to read and write fluently in Khmer, so that they have the skills to grasp basic and comprehensive knowledge, and avoid getting caught up in learning English too early based on social achievements.

Last month, Prime Minister Hun Manet directed the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to urgently strengthen reforms in school teaching activities and build a modern education system that is commensurate with changes in national development goals in the new global context.

Source: https://vov.vn/the-gioi/campuchia-doi-mat-voi-nhung-thach-thuc-ve-cai-cach-he-thong-giao-duc-post1187386.vov