Cambodia Expands Access and Skills Training as Education Gains Momentum

PHNOM PENH, 12 February 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia is reporting steady gains in primary, secondary and vocational education, with officials highlighting reforms that are boosting enrollment, reducing dropouts and expanding technical training to meet labour market needs.

At the three-day Annual Review and Planning Meeting, Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said promotion rates at the primary level rose to 90.5% in the 2025-2026 school year, while dropout rates fell to 4.4%.

Enrollment has climbed to more than 2.25 million students, supported by over 8,200 schools nationwide.

Secondary education has also expanded. Lower secondary enrollment has grown to 79%, with graduation rates rising to 63.6%. Upper secondary enrollment has nearly doubled over the past decade, with graduation rates now at 41.7%.

Technical and vocational training is being scaled up, with student numbers in upper secondary technical programs increasing more than fivefold since 2014. Courses now range from electrical engineering and garment skills to digital media design and smart agriculture.

Deputy Prime Minister Hang Chuon Naron said the figures reflect “steady progress in both general and technical education,” pointing to higher promotion rates, lower dropouts and expanded vocational pathways as evidence of reforms taking hold.

Officials said the push aims to equip young Cambodians with practical skills while strengthening the country’s human capital base for future growth.