AKP Phnom Penh, April 29, 2025 --

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports, met on April 28 with a delegation from the World Bank, led by Ms. Tania Meyer, the World Bank’s Country Representative for Cambodia.

The meeting was part of the 6th support mission for the implementation of the World Bank’s General Education Improvement Project. 

During the discussion, Ms. Meyer commended the ministry’s working group for their strong collaboration, particularly in advancing the General Education Improvement Project. She highlighted the main objectives of this 6th mission, which include assessing progress made since the last mission in November 2024, monitoring agreed-upon activities, reviewing project action plans and management, and evaluating environmental and social safeguards. Additionally, the mission examined progress in results-based performance indicators and discussed key challenges in implementation to ensure effective project execution moving forward. 

In response, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron expressed deep gratitude to the World Bank and relevant stakeholders for their active technical and financial support, which has contributed to the project’s success thus far.

He also provided recommendations for further improving education quality, emphasising several critical components: Encouraging Schools to Take Initiative: Schools should be motivated to implement self-improvement measures, particularly in adopting more model school standards; Enhancing Student Competencies: Utilising assessment results (such as SEA-PLM and PISA) to guide student development and improve teachers’ instructional strategies; Promoting Innovative Teaching Methods: Encouraging student questioning, lesson summarisation, and critical thinking to develop higher-order analytical skills; Updating Curriculum; Materials: Textbooks should be revised to align with new teaching methodologies for easier implementation; Fostering Research and Self-Learning: Increasing discussions, research, and independent study among educators and students; Supporting School Infrastructure Development: Continued evaluation and assistance for schools actively improving their facilities. 

The meeting reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to strengthening Cambodia’s education system through effective collaboration and targeted reforms.  

By K. Rithy Reak