The way to a high school in Cambodia #SMSnotes

High School in Cambodia

In Cambodia, an education system has been in place since at least the thirteenth century. Traditionally, Cambodian education took place in the Wats (Buddhist monasteries) and was offered exclusively to the male population. The education involved basic literature, the foundation of religion, and skills for daily life like carpentry, artistry, craftwork, constructing, playing instruments, etc.









This ‘traditional’ education was gradually changed when Cambodia was a French colony (1863-1953). The French introduced a formal education system influenced by a Western educational model, which was developed through the independence period (the 1960s), alongside with traditional education. During the following civil wars, the education system suffered a chronic crisis and was completely destroyed during the Red Khmer regime (the 1970s). Between the 1980s and 1990s, education was reconstructed from almost ‘nothing’ and has been gradually developed until now.

Presently, after its reform in 1996, the formal educational structure of Cambodia is formulated in 6+3+3. This means 12 years for the completion of general education divides up into six years for primary education (grade 1 to 6) and six years for secondary general education (grade 7 to 12). Secondary education consists of three years each for lower secondary education (grades 7 to 9) and upper secondary education (grade 10 to 12). This formulation does not include at least one year of preschool education (kindergarten) for children from 3 to below 6 years old and university education of 4 to 5 years.



Two other components of the Cambodian educational structure involve non-formal education providing all children, youth, adults, and disabled people with literacy and access to life skills. The other component is teacher training education. This allows students that successfully completed grade 12 or grade 9 to pursue teacher certificates at provincial teacher training colleges (for primary school teachers) or regional teacher training centers (for lower secondary school teachers).

Currently, the educational system is run by the Cambodian state, but private education exists at all levels and is run by the private sector. Most private schools offering preschool education and general education have been operated by communities of ethnic and religious minorities including Chinese, Muslim, French, English, and Vietnamese. Private higher education is accessible mainly in the capital of the country, but it is also available throughout the provinces of Cambodia.


Cambodian general education is based on a national school curriculum that consists of two main parts: basic education and upper secondary education. The basic education curriculum is divided into three cycles of three years each. The first cycle (grade 1-3) consists of 27-30 lessons per week lasting 40 minutes which are allocated to the five main subjects: • Khmer (13 lessons) • Maths (7 lessons) • Science & Social Studies including Arts (3 lessons) • Physical and Health Education (2 lessons) and local life skills program (2-5 lessons)

The second cycle (grade 4-6) comprises the same number of lessons but is slightly different: • Khmer (10 for grade 4 and 8 for grade 5-6) • Maths (6 for grade 4-6) • Science (3 for grade 4 and 4 for grade 5-6) • Social Studies including arts (4 for grade 4 and 5 for grade 5-6) • Physical and Health Education (2 for grade 4-6) • Local life skills program (2-5 for grade 4-6).


The third cycle (grade 7-9) consists of 32-35 lessons which are allocated for 7 major subjects: • Khmer • Maths • Social Studies and Science (6 lessons respectively) • Foreign languages (4 lessons) • Physical & Health Education and Sports (2 lessons) • Local life skills program (2-5 lessons)






The Upper Secondary Education curriculum consists of two different phases. The curriculum for the first phase (grade 10) is identical to the third cycle of primary education (see above). The second phase (grade 11-12) has two main components: Compulsory and Electives. Compulsory involves four major subjects with different numbers of lessons allocated per week: Khmer literature (6 lessons), Physical & Health Education and Sports (2 lessons), Foreign language: English or French (must choose one, 4 lessons each), and Mathematics: Basic or Advance (must choose one, 4 or 8 lesson respectively). Electives include three major subjects covering four or five sub-subjects with four lessons allocated per week for each one (students may choose one or two or three of them): • Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Studies • Social Studies: Moral/Civics, History, Geography, Economics • EVEP (Effective Vocational Education Program): ICT/Technology, Accounting Business Management, Local Vocational Technical Subject, Tourism and Arts Education, and other subjects. Those choosing Basic Maths or Advanced Maths must choose four sub-subjects or three subjects respectively from the electives.





Education in Cambodia is controlled by the state through the Ministry of Education at the national level and by the Department of Education at the provincial level.