New UNICEF Representative Praises Long-Standing Partnership with Cambodia's Ministry of Education

Dr. Maha Damaj, the new UNICEF Representative to Cambodia, expressed her delight in beginning her mission in Cambodia and highly valued the long-standing partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, which dates back to the early 1990s. During a meeting with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, the new UNICEF representative strongly emphasized her intention to further strengthen and expand cooperation. Specifically, she aims to promote support for vulnerable children, ethnic minority children (through multilingual education), and children with disabilities. This will be pursued through inter-sectoral collaboration with the Ministry of Health for early childhood interventions and the successful implementation of the Cambodia-UNICEF Cooperation Program 2024-2028 and the Capacity Development Partnership Fund (CDPF) Phase III. In response, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron warmly welcomed Dr. Maha Damaj on her new mission and expressed his deep gratitude for UNICEF's valuable support. He noted that UNICEF plays a crucial role as a strategic partner, a coordinating agency for the education working group, and a funding agency for the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), aligning with the new direction of education to foster inclusive and resilient human resources. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister highlighted the priority of shifting teaching methods from rote memorization to promoting deep thinking, analysis, and practical application of knowledge. He also mentioned the importance of strengthening child readiness through early childhood education, implementing model school standards, and developing strategic response plans in support of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), in close collaboration with partner institutions such as UNESCO and the World Bank. Furthermore, he underscored the significance of promoting digital education transformation, implementing ICT and AI competency frameworks for teachers, and reinforcing cooperation under the CDPF Phase III to enhance school governance and competitiveness both regionally and internationally.