Cambodia’s education system, governed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, has undergone extensive reforms since the post-conflict era, achieving notable gains in access and quality—especially at the primary level. Structured into early childhood, general (primary to upper secondary), higher, and technical/vocational education, the system now boasts near-universal primary enrollment and rising rates at secondary and tertiary levels.
However, challenges persist, including rural-urban disparities, teacher shortages, and low learning outcomes. Recent efforts emphasize STEM, teacher qualification reforms, and vocational training through initiatives like “TVET 1.5M.” Guided by the 2024–2028 Education Strategic Plan, Cambodia aims to modernize its system, promote equity and quality, and align education with national economic goals for 2030 and beyond.
Education in Cambodia: A System in Evolution
Cambodia’s education system, overseen by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), has undergone significant transformations since the post-conflict era. While facing persistent challenges, notable progress has been made in expanding access and improving quality, particularly at the primary level. The official school year in Cambodia runs from November to August.
Age-Wise Structure of Cambodian Education:
I. Early Childhood Education (Preschool)
Age: 3 to 5 years
Levels: Nursery (3 years), Kindergarten 1 (4 years), Kindergarten 2 (5 years)
Nature: Optional but highly encouraged.
Focus: Development of basic social, motor, and cognitive skills, preparing children for formal schooling.
Recent Data (2024): The participation rate in early childhood education among 5-year-olds reached 70% (71% for boys and 72% for girls) for the first time. However, overall enrollment for children aged 3-5 remains lower, around 38.6%, attributed to a lack of kindergarten infrastructure, a shortage of skilled teachers, and parental perspectives.
II. General Education (12 Years Total)
1. Primary Education
- Age: 6 to 11 years
- Grades: 1 to 6
- Compulsory: Yes
- Curriculum: Core subjects include Khmer language, mathematics, science, moral/civic education, and physical education.
- Recent Data (2023-2024): The primary school enrollment rate has seen impressive growth, increasing from 98.2% in 2013-14 to 99.6% in 2023-2024. In 2022, there were 2,164,738 pupils in primary education, with a gender parity index at primary level around 0.981 in 2021, indicating near-equal enrollment for boys and girls. The primary completion rate in 2023 was approximately 89.88% overall (92.66% for females, 87.25% for males). Notably, 100% of primary education teachers were reported as trained in 2023.
2. Lower Secondary Education
- Age: 12 to 14 years
- Grades: 7 to 9
- Compulsory: Yes
- Curriculum: Students delve into more formal academic disciplines such as biology, chemistry, history, and geography.
- Recent Data (2024-2025): The overall enrollment rate in lower secondary education increased from 55.1% in 2013-14 to 75.2% in 2024-2025. The lower secondary completion rate in 2022 was 62.2% (67.5% for females, 56.0% for males). Dropout rates, particularly in rural areas and affecting girls, remain a concern, though progress has been made through initiatives like scholarships and new school construction.
3. Upper Secondary Education
- Age: 15 to 17 years
- Grades: 10 to 12
- Compulsory: No, but encouraged.
- Progression: Ends with the Grade 12 National Exam (Baccalaureate or “Bac II”), which is a mandatory requirement for university admission.
- Recent Data (2024-2025): The overall enrollment rate in upper secondary education has increased from 26% in 2013-14 to 44.3% in 2024-2025. The pass rate for the Grade 12 National Exam has significantly improved, reaching 79% in 2024, with 2,225 students receiving A grades. This is a substantial rise from around 40% after the 2014 reforms.
III. Higher Education
- Typical Age: Undergraduate (Bachelor’s Degree): 18 to 22 years
- Duration: Bachelor’s degrees typically last 4 years, though some programs like medicine extend longer. Postgraduate degrees include Master’s (+2 years) and Doctorate/Ph.D. (+3 to 5 years), with the latter having limited availability in-country.
- Recent Data (2024): The overall enrollment rate in higher education increased from 9.9% in 2013 to 19.1% in 2024. The number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has significantly expanded, from less than 10 in the 1990s to 132 in the 2021-2022 academic year, with 63.63% being privately owned. Student enrollment has also surged from approximately 10,000 in the 1990s to around 200,000 in 2021-2022.
IV. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Availability: Available after lower or upper secondary education.
Age: Typically 15+ years.
Programs: Range from 1 month to 3 years.
Providers: Offered by institutions such as the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC) and other centers.
Recent Initiatives (2024-2025): The government launched the “TVET 1.5M” program, aiming to provide vocational training to 1.5 million youth from poor and vulnerable families. As of early 2025, nearly 80,000 youngsters have signed up, with around 30,000 undergoing training and 20,000 already graduated. This initiative offers free training in 45 majors across 10 key priority sectors (e.g., construction, electricity, IT, automotive).
Key Notes and Developments:
Literacy Rate: Cambodia’s literacy rate for 2022 was 83.78%.
Education Budget: The Ministry of Education’s overall budget for 2024 was hiked 9% to 4,081 billion riels (approximately $990 million USD).
Strategic Plan: MoEYS officially launched the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2024-2028 in early 2025. This plan focuses on “Ensuring all Cambodians have access to quality, equitable, and inclusive education enriched with knowledge, skills, discipline, ethics, good behavior, health, fitness, and lifelong learning.” It emphasizes quality, equity, inclusion, strengthening governance, enhancing teaching and learning outcomes, and addressing challenges like the impact of COVID-19.
Teacher Quality: Efforts are underway to strengthen teacher education, with a strategic plan for teacher education reform (2024-2030) aiming to establish a high-quality system and ensure all teachers from primary to upper secondary hold at least a Bachelor-level qualification.
STEM Education: New Generation Schools and Resource High Schools are actively promoting STEM education through science laboratories and ICT rooms. However, integration of STEM, particularly in rural areas, remains a challenge.
Non-Formal Education: Non-formal education programs are provided for out-of-school children and adults, including vocational literacy, post-literacy, re-enrollment, and equivalency programs.
Challenges: Despite progress, significant challenges persist. These include disparities in access and quality between rural and urban areas, a shortage of well-trained teachers (especially in rural areas and specialized subjects), low learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy compared to regional peers, large class sizes, limited access to quality learning materials, and the need for greater alignment of curricula with real-world job demands. Historical issues of corruption in examinations have been actively addressed through reforms.
Future Focus: The government is committed to modernizing the education system, enhancing technical and soft skills, fostering industry-academic partnerships, and leveraging digital transformation, including e-learning platforms and AI-based learning tools. International collaboration, particularly within ASEAN and with China, is also being strengthened to improve educational standards and global competitiveness.
Cambodia’s education system is on a path of continuous reform and development, aiming to build a skilled workforce necessary for its aspirations of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.
FAQs on Age-wise Education System in Cambodia
What is the structure of Cambodia’s education system?
Cambodia’s education system includes early childhood, primary, lower and upper secondary, higher education, and technical and vocational training.
Who oversees education in Cambodia?
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) oversees the Cambodian education system.
When does the school year in Cambodia start and end?
The official school year runs from November to August.
At what age do children start preschool in Cambodia?
Children typically start preschool at age 3, though it is optional but encouraged.
What is the participation rate in early childhood education?
In 2024, 70% of 5-year-olds were enrolled, but overall enrollment for ages 3–5 was only about 38.6%.
Is primary education compulsory in Cambodia?
Yes, primary education is compulsory and covers grades 1 to 6 for children aged 6 to 11.
What is the enrollment rate for primary education?
As of 2023–2024, the enrollment rate reached 99.6%.
What is the primary school completion rate?
In 2023, the completion rate was approximately 89.88%, higher for girls than boys.
Are all primary school teachers trained in Cambodia?
Yes, 100% of primary education teachers were reported as trained in 2023.
Is lower secondary education compulsory?
Yes, lower secondary education (grades 7–9, ages 12–14) is compulsory in Cambodia.
What subjects are taught in lower secondary education?
Subjects include biology, chemistry, history, geography, and core academic disciplines.
What is the enrollment rate for lower secondary education?
The enrollment rate increased to 75.2% by 2024–2025.
What is the completion rate for lower secondary education?
As of 2022, it was 62.2%, with higher rates among girls.
Is upper secondary education compulsory?
No, upper secondary education (grades 10–12, ages 15–17) is not compulsory but encouraged.
What is the final exam in upper secondary education?
The Grade 12 National Exam, or “Bac II,” is mandatory for university admission.
What is the pass rate for the Grade 12 National Exam?
In 2024, the pass rate was 79%, a significant improvement since 2014.
How has higher education enrollment changed in Cambodia?
Enrollment increased from 9.9% in 2013 to 19.1% in 2024.
How many higher education institutions are there in Cambodia?
There were 132 HEIs in the 2021–2022 academic year, with most being private.
What age group typically attends higher education?
Undergraduate students are typically aged 18 to 22, with longer programs like medicine extending beyond.
What degrees are offered in higher education?
Bachelor’s, Master’s, and limited Doctorate programs are available.
What is TVET in Cambodia?
TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) offers practical skills training for youth aged 15 and up.
What is the “TVET 1.5M” initiative?
Launched in 2024–2025, it aims to train 1.5 million youth from poor and vulnerable families.
How many students have joined the TVET 1.5M program?
By early 2025, nearly 80,000 had signed up, with 30,000 in training and 20,000 graduates.
What does the Education Strategic Plan 2024–2028 focus on?
It emphasizes access, quality, equity, inclusion, teacher training, and digital transformation.
What is the current literacy rate in Cambodia?
As of 2022, Cambodia’s literacy rate stood at 83.78%.
How much is Cambodia’s education budget for 2024?
The budget was increased by 9% to 4,081 billion riels (approx. $990 million USD).
What reforms are being made to teacher education?
A strategic plan (2024–2030) aims to ensure all teachers hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
How is STEM education being promoted in Cambodia?
Through New Generation Schools and Resource High Schools, which feature science labs and ICT rooms.
What are the main challenges in Cambodian education?
These include rural-urban disparities, low learning outcomes, large class sizes, and a shortage of skilled teachers.
Is non-formal education available in Cambodia?
Yes, it includes literacy, re-enrollment, vocational, and equivalency programs for out-of-school children and adults.
How is Cambodia addressing exam-related corruption?
Reforms since 2014 have significantly curbed corruption in national examinations.
What is Cambodia’s long-term education goal?
To build a skilled workforce supporting the country’s aim to become an upper-middle-income nation by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.
Is digital learning part of Cambodia’s education strategy?
Yes, digital platforms and AI-based learning tools are being introduced to modernize education.
How is international cooperation influencing Cambodian education?
Cambodia is strengthening ties with ASEAN countries and China to enhance standards and competitiveness.
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