PHNOM PENH: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng confirmed that from 2024 onwards, the Royal Government will transfer the management of primary education, kindergarten, early childhood education to provincial administrations following the success of the pilot program launched in Battambang in 2020.

The plan was confirmed during a courtesy call from UNICEF representative to Cambodia, Dr. Will Parks, on May 24. During their meeting, Dr. Parks assured the Minister of Interior that UNICEF would continue to support women’s and children’s rights in line with its policy of decentralization reforms with the Royal Government of Cambodia. He also confirmed UNICEF’S adoption of a new four-year action plan (2024-2028)for Cambodia.

In order to implement the four-year plan, DPM Sar Kheng requested that UNICEF experts coordinate with his ministry’s General Department of Administration and the Secretariat of the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development.

In 2020, the Royal Government began a trial run of allowing provincial administrations to manage primary, kindergarten, and early childhood education in Battambang province and they will now do the same in the rest of the provinces. That said, the Ministry of Education will maintain control of secondary education.