Cambodia’s efforts to eradicate illiteracy are paying off: the adult literacy rate, among citizens 15 years old and above, has risen significantly over the last decade, with plans to increase enrolment as well as encourage more students to finish primary school.
“The figure clearly reflects the Royal Government of Cambodia’s efforts to reduce illiteracy rate,” states Ros Soveacha, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.
In 2008, the literacy rate was 77.6% and had since gained about 10 points, reaching 87.8% in 2020. There are 18,430 public and private schools in Cambodia, welcoming 3.58 million students from kindergarten to high school. Out of the 130 higher education institutions, 48 are run by the state. The South Asian country’s Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023 is meant to encourage students to finish primary school, have more students enrolled, and promote regular attendance.
