Early childhood education usually serves children aged 3–5 through state, community-based, private, home-based or factory nursery programmes. It is not compulsory, but it prepares children for Grade 1. Admission to Grade 1 generally begins at age six or when a child is at least 70 months old at the beginning of the school year. Parents or guardians are responsible for enrolling children from age six and supporting their learning. Primary education covers Grades 1–6, lower secondary education covers Grades 7–9, and upper secondary education covers Grades 10–12. Grades 1–9 are basic education. A child normally moves from early childhood education to Grade 1, then from primary to lower secondary school. In 2023, 83.7% of primary pupils transitioned to lower secondary school, while the Education Strategic Plan 2024–2028 sets a target of 90%. Grade 9 completion can lead to upper secondary school or another functionally equivalent pathway. Grade 12 ends with a national examination. Cambodian public schools provide tuition-free education for Grades 1–9 under the law. This guarantee does not cover Grade 10–12 in the same way. Families may still face local costs for uniforms, learning materials, transport and meals. Private-school tuition varies by institution, and private general schools must include the Khmer programme. The school calendar and exact dates depend on the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the relevant institution. The national fundamental curriculum covers Khmer, mathematics, science, social studies, information and communication technology, health, morality and civics, physical education and related subjects. Khmer is the official language and a compulsory subject in public education. A multilingual education measure supports access in early childhood education and the first three primary years in Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, Kratie, Stung Treng and Preah Vihear. Pnong, Kavet, Kreung, Tampuon, Prev and Jarai can serve as bridge languages before Khmer becomes the main language from Grade 4. In 2022, this programme covered 19 cities or districts, 133 preschools and 2,625 children. Schools use classroom and formative assessment as well as national, regional and international assessment. Responsibility for the Grade 9 examination has been transferred to subnational authorities, while the Grade 12 examination remains national. The Ministry also provides free digital learning resources, open educational resources, textbooks and lesson plans. Education access differs between places. Rural and remote areas face teacher shortages, while urban areas can have an oversupply of teachers. Contract teaching, double-shift teaching and multi-class teaching affect how lessons are delivered. The 2023 baseline estimated about 279 missed primary teaching hours, roughly 30% of the 850–1,000 intended hours. Poverty, distance, limited school coverage and the loss of earning opportunities can contribute to dropout, especially around the transition to Grade 7. The 2023 baseline recorded early childhood education experience for 70.4% of Grade 1 entrants, primary completion of 92.0%, primary dropout of 7.5% and repetition of 5.9%. Lower-secondary gross enrolment was 64.8%, completion was 59.7% and dropout was 18.2%; upper-secondary gross enrolment was 44.2%. These figures describe the 2023 baseline and should not be read as a current measurement. Cambodian law recognizes equal education rights for learners with disabilities. A learner may attend a regular school when sufficient support is available, receive additional instruction there, or use a separate special class or community school when needed. The Ministry has a Department of Special Education, a National Institute of Special Education and six special education high schools. An integrated model can combine half a day in a public school with half a day in a special school. Support measures include pro-poor primary scholarships, school feeding and home-grown school feeding, water and sanitation facilities, toilets, handwashing, hygiene measures, health rooms, food-safety measures and two hours of health education per week. The 2023 baseline recorded 148,362 primary scholarship recipients and school feeding in 427 primary schools; the 2028 targets are 148,957 scholarship recipients, feeding in 1,114 primary schools and early childhood feeding in 200 settings. Parents, guardians, school management committees and community management committees can participate in school-based management. Schools may use voluntary funds with transparency and accountability. Learners have rights to dignity, freedom from physical or mental punishment, academic expression and participation in clubs. They are expected to follow school rules, respect others and make a serious effort to learn. A complaint or protest can be submitted to the responsible education authority or a court.
School in Cambodia
School education in Cambodia runs from early childhood education through Grade 12. Primary school covers Grades 1–6, lower secondary school covers Grades 7–9, and upper secondary school covers Grades 10–12; Grades 1–9 form basic education. Public schools provide tuition-free education through Grade 9 under Cambodian law, although families may still pay for uniforms, materials, transport or meals. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport sets curricula, standards and examinations, while provincial or municipal, district or Khan and school authorities manage education at lower levels.
Tip
Plan schooling in Cambodia around the child’s next transition, total household cost and ability to attend regularly. Public education through Grade 9 can reduce tuition costs, but uniforms, materials, transport and meals still require a budget. Check language access, learning support and actual school conditions before choosing between available options.