Background
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) holds responsibility for approving national curricula and core textbooks used in Cambodia’s public primary and secondary schools. Procedures to select international textbook developers set technical criteria, require submission of prior sample works, and specify pricing and printing conditions for bids.
On 29 June 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Hang Chuon Naron chaired a MoEYS meeting to review an evaluation report on international firms proposed for core textbook development and to discuss the progress of textbook modernization. The meeting brought together senior ministry leadership and relevant officials and emphasized textbook content revision, alignment with international standards, teacher training, and links between textbook design and national assessment priorities such as PISA.
Scope of Application
The procedures under discussion apply to the development, editing, and printing of national core textbooks for basic education, with explicit attention to both primary and secondary levels. The scope covers technical specifications for content modernization, submission of prior examples of work by candidate firms, and commercial elements such as editing and printing costs.
Key Provisions or Decisions
- The meeting reviewed an evaluation report on international firms proposed to be appointed for core textbook development and highlighted quality-improvement requirements for textbook content, pedagogical approach, and design.
- Participants discussed establishing clear technical procedures and selection criteria to ensure transparency and to identify firms with relevant experience and technical capacity.
- Recommendations from the minister included: direct school visits to assess current practice; comprehensive review across primary and secondary levels focusing on teaching methods, teacher training, and responsiveness to PISA performance; requiring candidate firms to submit prior textbook samples; emphasis on teacher guides and pedagogical alignment; and consideration of editing and printing prices in selection.
- The ministry recommended preparing a strategy to support improvements in PISA results and to incorporate New Generation School (NGS) teaching methods into textbook design.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
International curriculum and publishing firms seeking to participate in Cambodia’s textbook modernization process should be prepared to provide prior examples of authored and printed textbooks and to meet specified technical requirements for pedagogy and design. The ministry’s recommendations signal that selection will assess technical capacity, teacher-support materials (including teacher guides), and transparent costing for editing and printing; firms should align submissions to these dimensions to meet selection expectations.
Official Source
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) social media announcement and Linktree: https://linktr.ee/moeyscambodia. Original post: https://www.facebook.com/moeys.gov.kh/posts/pfbid02nbmYnY7btizVYzHwZyNiNEYjpwowcXiCnfWxbnas2ksQMjUBxHgQXfRVUeUDyVQNl
