Cambodia to Reform Teacher Training in 2026

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Nov.29,2025) — The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport announced plans to overhaul teacher training for primary and lower secondary schools beginning in 2026, aiming to attract more qualified candidates and raise teaching standards.

The announcement came during the 5th Annual Education Exhibition and Conference, held Nov. 28-29 at the Royal Academy of Phnom Penh under the theme “Teaching and Learning Practices in Response to 21st-Century Education.”

Secretary of State Nat Bunroeun said the current “12+2” system will be phased out and replaced with a bachelor’s degree track (“12+4”) and a bachelor-plus-one framework.

The reform will align professional standards for primary and lower secondary teachers with those at the upper secondary level, offering expanded career opportunities.

Bunroeun also called for a study of teachers who have served since 1986 through retirement, to guide future policy and inform discussions at next year’s 6th Annual Education Exhibition and Conference.

The General Department of Teacher Training and Pedagogy, along with institutes in Phnom Penh and Battambang, will lead the research.

The two-day conference featured keynote speeches, plenary sessions, and an exhibition showcasing 48 teaching projects and 32 research presentations by teachers, students, alumni, and development partners.

Officials said the reforms are designed to strengthen Cambodia’s education system and ensure teachers are prepared to meet the demands of 21st-century learning.