AKP Kampong Speu, July 22, 2025 —

Lok Chumteav Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet this morning visited the newly established Pich Chanmony Hun Manet Kindergarten in Kampong Speu province, extending her warm regards to both teachers and pupils. 

The kindergarten, located within the Command and General Staff Institute and the Active Military Officers School in Po village, Damnak Reang commune, Samaky Monichey district, officially opened following approval from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on July 15, 2025.

The new institution aims to provide quality early childhood education for children aged three to under six years old and operates under the direct management of the Ministry of National Defence's Command and General Staff Institute. During her visit, Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet engaged warmly with the pupils and educators, underscoring her dedication to early childhood development.

The Pich Chanmony Hun Manet Kindergarten functions as a public early childhood education institution, responsible for implementing national laws, policies, and support programmes to ensure high-quality services. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, has confirmed that the kindergarten director and the Command and General Staff Institute will collaborate closely with the Samaki Monichey District Administration and the Kampong Speu Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sports, to offer technical and pedagogical support.

The Ministry also affirmed that the kindergarten is eligible for operational funding as a public school and can utilise both contractual and state-employed educational staff. Furthermore, the kindergarten is encouraged to mobilise resources from various sources, including communities, parents, development partners, and philanthropists, to support its ongoing development and operations.

The establishment of the kindergarten under the direct administration of the Command and General Staff Institute was a direct response to a request from the institute's leadership. 

This initiative aligns with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s broader commitment to child protection and development, specifically through empowering sub-national administrations to expand early childhood development services.

As of the 2024–2025 academic year, Cambodia boasts 9,036 kindergartens nationwide. This total includes 4,725 public kindergartens, 963 private kindergartens, and 334 community-based kindergartens. 

Additionally, 13 community-based childcare centres are located near garment factories, providing essential support for the children of factory workers.

By K. Rithy Reak