Cambodia Emphasizes Dual Approach: Strengthening Teacher Professionalism and Enhancing Educational Quality

In Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, efforts are underway to enhance teacher professionalism in parallel with improving educational quality. A workshop disseminating the Royal Decree on Teacher Statutes was held on September 22, 2026, in Svay Chek District, targeting educational personnel. The seminar was officially opened by Im Samnang, Deputy Governor of the province, representing Governor O Rithy. Deputy Governor Im Samnang emphasized that teachers are the core force in human resource development and play a crucial role in nurturing children and youth into citizens with knowledge, competence, morality, and responsibility towards the nation. Therefore, strengthening teacher professionalism must go hand-in-hand with enhancing educational quality to meet the demands of human resource development in society. He stressed that understanding the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of teachers as stipulated in the Royal Decree is fundamental for educational personnel to perform their duties with professionalism, discipline, morality, and high responsibility. Clear comprehension of the provisions will also contribute to elevating the prestige and value of the teaching profession in society. He urged school leaders, teachers, and all educational staff to study and understand the decree's content thoroughly and disseminate it widely to relevant parties. Furthermore, he encouraged all teachers to continuously develop their professional capabilities through further study, experience exchange, and acquiring new knowledge and teaching methodologies to make teaching and learning more effective and responsive to societal evolution. He underscored that beyond imparting knowledge, teachers are responsible for cultivating morality, good behavior, discipline, a sense of responsibility, and social participation among students. Thus, educational quality cannot solely depend on teaching materials or school infrastructure but requires teachers with competence, professionalism, morality, and strong commitment to their duties. Deputy Governor Im Samnang also instructed local authorities and relevant officials to continue strengthening cooperation with the education sector to jointly address the challenges faced by educational institutions, support the work of teachers, and create a conducive environment for student learning. The dissemination of the Royal Decree on Teacher Statutes is not only for deepening legal and regulatory understanding among educational personnel but also serves as a part of strengthening the professional culture, discipline, morality, and responsibility of teachers. Enhancing the professional foundation of teachers will become a supporting force for improving educational quality and a basis for building human resources with knowledge, competence, and virtue, in line with the needs of sustainable national development. Source: AKP Khmer