Background
On 19 March 2026 in Phnom Penh, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) presided over the official launch of the “Cambodia Child School Health Development Project, Phase Two (2026–2028)”. The project is implemented by the Foundation for Supporting Health Education Training and Eco-Health Promotion (STEP) with financial support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan. Senior ministry leaders, development partners, and relevant officials attended the ceremony.
During the event, the Standing Secretary of State of MoEYS expressed appreciation to STEP and The Nippon Foundation for their continued and substantial support to Cambodia’s education sector. The ministry emphasized that the second phase of the project is expected to contribute to building human resources with both knowledge and good health.
Scope of Application
The project focuses on integrating and strengthening school health education within teacher training institutions in Cambodia. In the first phase, MoEYS introduced a detailed school health education program equivalent to 2 credits for primary education level and 1 credit for lower secondary education level in teacher training institutions.
Under Phase Two, the project targets the development of a specialized school health subject for lower secondary education. This will apply to national-level curricula, textbooks, and training for specialized school health teacher trainers, in line with the National Action Plan on School Health 2021–2030.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The launch event marked the official implementation of Phase Two (2026–2028) of the Cambodia Child School Health Development Project. Key elements highlighted include:
- Continuation and deepening of school health education within teacher training programs building on Phase One achievements.
- Development of a specialized school health subject for lower secondary education.
- Preparation of a core curriculum and main textbooks for the school health specialization.
- Training of national-level specialized school health teacher trainers to deliver the new subject.
- Alignment of all activities with the National Action Plan on School Health 2021–2030.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
While the announcement does not introduce a formal regulatory obligation for private actors, it signals MoEYS’s long-term orientation toward integrating school health into teacher training and national education planning. Education and health sector partners, NGOs, and training institutions may need to align their programs and collaboration with MoEYS’s emerging specialized school health subject and related curricula.
Stakeholders engaging with public teacher training institutions or supporting school health initiatives should note the shift from pilot credit-based modules in Phase One to a more formalized specialization in Phase Two, consistent with the National Action Plan on School Health 2021–2030.
Official Source
The information is based on an official announcement by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport published via its verified Facebook page and linked official web and social media channels.
