AKP Phnom Penh, March 31, 2026 --

UNICEF has pledged to continue strengthening the educational sector in line with the government's Pentagonal Strategy and the Education Strategic Plan for 2024-2028, as well as the health system, mainly in maternal, infant and children health, and vaccination and nutrition. 

The commitment was made by Mrs. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, during her separate meetings with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, and H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, Minister of Health in Phnom Penh on Mar. 30.

Mrs. June Kunugi spoke highly of the Royal Government of Cambodia's effort in reforming the educational sector and its SEA-PLM recent results, which clearly demonstrated the progress of students' learning, especially Cambodia's resilience in rebuilding education system from the shadow of war.  

The UNICEF Regional Director highlighted several gaps that needs to be filled, particularly in remote areas; and reaffirmed UNICEF's commitment to supporting Cambodia's new national programme for 2024-2028 to ensure that children receive quality and equitable education.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron expressed thanks to the UNICEF for its cooperation and support to Cambodia's teachers and students for decades.

He underlined the progress of the education sector in school reform over the past ten years, reaching major achievements such as expanding access to early childhood education, providing scholarships for poor students to prevent dropout, improving teachers' qualifications and launching model school standards nationwide, and beyond. 
 
The Ministry is working hard in encouraging using AI in the education sector even there remained some challenges related to technical tools, computers and digital infrastructures in some remote areas, said H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron.

In the meeting with Health Minister H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, Mrs. June Kunugi reaffirmed the UNICEF's commitments in implementing health policy and strategic plan to strengthen the health system, especially the maternal, infant and children health, and vaccination and nutrition.

Under close cooperation with the Ministry, she said, UNICEF has been discussing main policies and programmes including addressing malnutrition issues, supporting digital transformation, accelerating the path towards equity and global health coverage, as well as preparing a five-year country programme in accordance with the Pentagonal Strategy - Phase 1 with a focus on vaccination coverage throughout Cambodia. 

H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra thanked UNICEF for the good collaboration since 1952, stressing the organisation has been playing a crucial role in supporting Cambodia's recovery and development, as well as in expanding its cooperation to support the Ministry's new strategic plan in promoting the people's welfare reaching to achieve the global health coverage in line with the Pentagonal Strategy - Phase 1.

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron (R), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, and Mrs. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific

Health Minister H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra (R) and Mrs. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific

By Lim Nary