PHNOM PENH, November 25, 2025 - Cambodia has made notable progress in getting children into school and now urgently needs to improve what happens in classrooms, according to two new World Bank reports released today. By examining both the quality and quantity of teaching in primary schools, the reports identify steps to strengthen basic literacy and numeracy, so giving all children a foundation from which they can learn and thrive.
"By investing in teachers and improving learning time, Cambodia can offer children a better education and build a more competitive workforce," said Tania Meyer, World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia. "The World Bank is committed to supporting Cambodia's efforts to improve learning and create opportunities for all children, thereby laying the groundwork for inclusive economic growth and better jobs."
The Teacher Quality in Cambodia's Primary Education: Toward Incentivizing Effort, Performance, and Quality Assurance report shows that further effort is needed to strengthen teaching quality. While higher teacher salaries have encouraged more top-performing high school graduates to join the profession, there has not yet been an improvement in teaching practices or subject knowledge in classrooms. The report notes that many primary teachers continue to take second jobs, limiting the time and energy they can give their students.
To improve learning outcomes, the report calls for increased investment in both pre-service and in-service teacher training. With many new teachers expected to enter the profession in the coming years, there is opportunity now to build a new generation of high-quality teachers.
The Instruction Time and Student Learning: Can Cambodia Improve Learning Outcomes by Introducing Full-day Lesson Schedules in Primary Schools? report finds that while Cambodian schools already allocate a relatively large amount of classroom time to literacy and numeracy, a high number of students still struggle with these skills.
Analyzing international experience, the report recommends cost-effective measures to improve results, such as reducing teacher absenteeism, minimizing unofficial school closures, and increasing the number of teaching weeks in the school year. Should the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport decide to expand full-day schooling in primary education, the report advises taking a long-term, gradual approach to ensure both impact and affordability. It also emphasizes the need for continued investment to improve the quality and effectiveness of classroom instruction.
