Cambodia has made progress in increasing school enrollment, but the quality of classroom learning remains a concern, according to two new reports from the World Bank released today. The reports focus on primary education and outline strategies to strengthen basic literacy and numeracy among students.
“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.”
One report, titled "Teacher Quality in Cambodia’s Primary Education: Toward Incentivizing Effort, Performance, and Quality Assurance," notes that while increased teacher salaries have attracted more high-achieving high school graduates into teaching careers, this has not yet translated into improved teaching practices or subject knowledge in classrooms. The report also points out that many primary teachers continue to hold second jobs, which affects their availability and energy for teaching.
To address these issues, the report calls for greater investment in both pre-service and ongoing teacher training programs. With many new teachers expected to join the profession soon, there is an opportunity to raise overall teaching standards.
The second report, "Instruction Time and Student Learning: Can Cambodia Improve Learning Outcomes by Introducing Full-day Lesson Schedules in Primary Schools?" finds that despite allocating significant classroom time to core subjects like literacy and numeracy, many Cambodian students still struggle with these skills.
Drawing on international experience, the report recommends practical steps such as reducing teacher absenteeism, limiting unofficial school closures, and increasing the number of instructional weeks each year. If full-day schooling is expanded at the primary level by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, a gradual approach is advised to ensure both effectiveness and affordability. The report also highlights continued investment as necessary for improving classroom instruction quality.