Cambodia Provides Monthly Stipends to Over 430,000 Students from Poor Families

The Cambodian government has initiated a scholarship program for students from poor families holding "Equity Cards" since early 2025, aiming to promote educational opportunities and specifically reduce dropout rates. This program provides monthly stipends to students in primary education (grades 1-6) and secondary education (grades 7-12). This scholarship initiative is a key social protection measure within the "National Social Protection Program for Families," designated as one of Prime Minister Hun Manet's six priority policy programs for the 7th mandate of the National Assembly government. As of August 2026, a total of 429,364 students from "Equity Card" holding families across the country have received monthly stipends for the 2025 and 2026 academic years. The government plans to allocate approximately $300,000 annually for the implementation of this program. The scholarships play a crucial role in alleviating the financial burden on poor families and in preventing and reducing student dropouts. Notably, in 2026, 6,291 students from "Equity Card" holding families had the opportunity to take the high school diploma examination (Bak Doeb), with 61 of them achieving the top "A" grade. These results clearly demonstrate that the program, which began distributing stipends in January 2025, is not only contributing to livelihood support but is also making a tangible investment in human capital.