Cambodia Deepens Japan Backed Education Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, April 27, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is strengthening education cooperation with Japanese partners, focusing on digital learning, teacher development and human capital advancement, officials said Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron met Okubo Hideo, founder and chairman of the Cambodia International Education Support Foundation, to review progress on joint initiatives and outline future plans.

Discussions highlighted priorities including teacher training, capacity building for institutions, and the development of science teaching materials for primary and secondary schools. Both sides also emphasized the rollout of digital textbooks, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms to equip students with 21st century skills.

“The cooperation reflects Cambodia’s broader push to modernize its education system while adopting international best practices,” Naron said, noting Japan’s “Kaizen” philosophy of continuous improvement as a guiding principle.

Okubo added: “Our partnership aims to support Cambodia in building a skilled, disciplined and competitive workforce, while ensuring students benefit from innovative tools and localized curricula.”

The cooperation also extends to scholarships, curriculum localization and integration of Cambodia’s New Generation School framework with Japanese models.