Ministry of Education, NBC Launch Bakong Junior to Promote Financial Literacy Among Students

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct. 31, 2025) — The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, in cooperation with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), has launched the pilot phase of “Bakong Junior”, a mobile payment program aimed at encouraging financial literacy and responsible money management among university students.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to instill habits of saving, budgeting and efficient financial planning in Cambodia’s youth. Students are encouraged to register and use the Bakong Junior app, which offers secure digital payment features and financial education tools.

Bakong Junior is an extension of the Bakong payment system, a blockchain-based interbank platform developed by the National Bank of Cambodia. Since its launch in 2020, Bakong has enabled seamless transactions across banks, microfinance institutions and payment service providers, helping expand financial inclusion nationwide.

“Bakong is not a digital currency — it’s a foundational payment infrastructure that empowers users to transact securely and efficiently,” said Chea Serey, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia. “With Bakong Junior, we’re giving young Cambodians the tools to take control of their financial futures.”

Students can access registration details and key features of the app by scanning the QR code provided by the ministry.