Cambodia Ranks Lowest in ASEAN Education, Report Finds

geovalin

Cambodia has ranked lowest among ASEAN nations in the 2025 World Population Review’s education index, placing 120th globally out of 203 countries.

Singapore leads ASEAN in education, followed by Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia, while Cambodia lags behind regional peers. South Korea tops the global list, followed by Denmark and the Netherlands.

Education specialist Dr Quach Mengly acknowledged Cambodia’s progress over the years but stressed that the country is falling behind in modernisation and technology. He highlighted a lack of STEM education and AI integration as key challenges, urging the government to invest in these areas.

Dr Mengly also warned against overemphasising English at the expense of Khmer proficiency, arguing that strong native language skills are essential for academic success.

The Ministry of Education has not yet commented on the report, citing the need to review its methodology. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for reforms to modernise Cambodia’s education system and ensure it keeps pace with global developments.

-2025-03-27