Cambodia’s PISA Results Improve Across Reading, Maths and Science
Cambodia’s PISA Results Improve Across Reading, Maths and Science
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 5, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and UNESCO Cambodia will jointly celebrate Teachers’ Day on October 5, 2026, under the theme “Teachers: Pillars of Modern Pedagogy for Building 21st-Century Human Resources.”
The national Teachers’ Day ceremony will be held at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh under the presidency of Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, and Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia.
According to the Ministry of Education, this year’s theme highlights the central role of teachers in developing well-rounded learners who are able to respond to a rapidly changing global environment.
Strengthening Teacher Training
The ministry said it has been working with UNESCO to strengthen teacher education through the Strengthening Teacher Education Programme in Cambodia (STEPCam), which has been implemented since 2018, alongside teacher-training school reforms and other professional development initiatives.
The Phnom Penh Teacher Education College and Battambang Teacher Education College have been established to provide teacher training under the 12+4 programme, while four regional teacher education centres are being transformed into teacher education institutes.
Five teacher-training institutions have also been recognised as model teacher education schools, according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, the ministry has introduced Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and the Human Resource Continuous Professional Development (HRCPD) management system to provide education personnel with opportunities to receive training and develop their professional skills throughout their careers.
Thousands of Teachers Trained and Recruited
Ministry data show that in 2025, a total of 1,351 primary and lower-secondary teachers, including 740 women, completed examinations and were deployed to designated schools.
Another 4,946 contract-based teachers, including 3,455 women, were recruited for five target provinces.
The ministry said efforts to transform the education system and strengthen support for teachers have contributed to improvements in learning outcomes.
According to the ministry, Cambodia’s PISA 2025 results increased by 18 points in reading, 30 points in mathematics and 35 points in science compared with the country’s 2022 results.
“Teachers Are the Heart of Learning”
Hang Chuon Naron described teachers as “the heart of learning”, stressing that investment in teachers should not end with initial training but should continue throughout their professional careers.
He said professional development should also be closely connected to teachers’ practical needs in the classroom.
Flavio Bonetti highlighted the importance of the 1966 ILO-UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which focuses on recognition and the value of the teaching profession, teacher autonomy and voice, as well as decent working conditions.
International Teachers’ Day Marks 60 Years of Teacher Protection
The theme for International Teachers’ Day 2026 is “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Promoting Status and Shaping Our Future.”
The theme marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO-UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
The Ministry of Education said that over the past decade, the Royal Government has increased teachers’ salaries by nearly threefold while continuing efforts to improve the quality of teacher training and expand opportunities for teachers to pursue professional development throughout their careers.
The ministry said continued investment in teachers is central to strengthening Cambodia’s education system and preparing students with the knowledge and skills needed for the 21st century.
