Background
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) oversees national basic and non-formal education programs and coordinates inclusive education initiatives for children with and without disabilities. On 29 September 2026, MoEYS and Save the Children held a workshop in Phnom Penh to present findings from a study on inclusive basic education needs and barriers affecting out-of-school children.
The study’s findings are designated as reference material for the mid-term review of the 2024–2028 Inclusive Basic Education Action Plan and for drafting operational guidance on inclusive basic education for children with and without disabilities. MoEYS has requested that participating units and partner organisations use the study results to set prioritized actions, assign responsibilities, define implementation timelines and establish measurable monitoring approaches.
Key Developments
The workshop took place at a Phnom Penh hotel and brought together roughly 70 participants, including MoEYS officials, representatives from Save the Children, a representative of the Japanese embassy (Nodoka Kobayashi), leaders of the National Institute for Special Education and provincial education department delegates from the seven target provinces. Presentations outlined concrete barriers that lead to children remaining outside the school system and to school dropouts for children with and without disabilities.
Policy Context
MoEYS framed the study as an evidence input for programmatic and policy adjustments rather than as a standalone regulatory instrument. The ministry asked units to integrate recommendations into ongoing program implementation and to use the evidence for a mid-term examination of the 2024–2028 action plan for inclusive basic education.
Operational Implications
MoEYS urged participating agencies to convert workshop recommendations into specific, measurable, and improvable actions at unit and institutional levels, including defining lead actors and timelines. The ministry also called on development partners and relevant organisations to continue providing technical assistance, knowledge and resources aligned to jointly defined priorities.
