Background
On 11 March 2026, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) participated in the celebration of the 11th National Reading Day at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia in Phnom Penh under the theme “Writing and Reading in a New Context.” The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron, under the high presidency of Men Sam An, Supreme Privy Councillor to the King of Cambodia, together with ministry leaders, representatives of ministries and institutions, national and international guests, education officials, teachers, and students.
During the event, the ministry presented a progress report on the organization of National Reading Day from 2016 to 2025 and outlined measures taken to strengthen foundational learning at the early primary level.
Key Developments
MoEYS stated that it has focused on implementing an early-grade reading package and expanding its use for Grades 1, 2, and 3 nationwide. The ministry also reported that the early-grade reading package has been incorporated into teacher training programs under the 12+2 and 12+4 training systems in order to support continuity. The ministry further referred to the implementation of pedagogical advisory mechanisms.
The ministry cited results from the 2024 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), stating that Cambodia’s students showed a measurable improvement in reading performance. According to the figures presented, the average reading score increased by 6 points compared with 2019, rising from 290 in 2019. The share of students reaching higher reading proficiency levels, defined as level 5 and above, increased from 27 percent in 2019 to 39 percent in 2024.
MoEYS also stated that among the countries that participated in both SEA-PLM rounds, Cambodia’s reading results remained in the middle of the group, ranking fourth after Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
Institutional Relevance
The item provides a ministry-issued record of policy implementation related to foundational literacy, teacher preparation, and national education performance reporting. It documents how MoEYS describes the nationwide rollout of early-grade reading interventions and the integration of reading methods into teacher training systems.
For long-term reference purposes, the post is relevant as an official statement of education-sector priorities, implementation measures, and ministry-reported learning outcome indicators as of March 2026.
Official Source
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), Facebook post published on 11 March 2026.
