March 21, 2025 / Mom Kunthea / Khmer Times
Masato Kanda (second left), President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) interacts with students of the Hun Sen Chamkar Doung High School in Kep province, on Wednesday. KT/Mom Kunthea
Education is not just about studying textbooks, it is about shaping futures and strengthening the foundation of communities
Education is the foundation of development and plays a crucial role in promoting growth and reducing poverty, enabling individuals to participate in a sustainable economic process, said Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on Wednesday.
Kanda made these remarks following his visit to Hun Sen Chamkar Doung High School in Kep province, a resource-rich secondary school supported by the Second Secondary Education Sector Development Project (USESDP-II).
The visit was attended by the senior officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) led by Nath Bunroeun, the Ministry’s Secretary of State, Kep provincial administration officials, local authorities, project implementing officers, provincial education departments, school administrators, teachers, students, and other stakeholders.
The visit aimed at meeting senior administration officials of the school, principal, teachers as well as students to learn about the impact and achievements of the USESDP-II, financed by the Asian Development Bank with a total implementation budget of $53.5 million.
This includes $15 million in ADB loan financing, $35 million in ADB grant financing, and $3.5 million from the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). The project began implementation on September 30, 2018, with a completion date set for the end of June 2025.
Talking to reporters, Kanda said that ADB’s priority in the education sector is not just for Cambodia, but for all countries. Education is not just about studying textbooks, it is about shaping futures and strengthening the foundation of communities.
“Education is the foundation of everything, as you have seen in the progress of students here. It is the cornerstone of development that helps lift people out of poverty, enabling them to participate in a sustainable economic process,” he said.
“The examples I saw at Hun Sen Chamkar Doung High School remind me that when we invest in better learning environments, we invest in the health, prosperity, and well-being of Cambodia’s next generation.”
He expressed hope that ADB will continue to collaborate with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to enhance cooperation, improve management, and strengthen human resources, enabling Cambodia to achieve further development.
“Of course, we have challenges, but those challenges when we work together, we will be able to solve them and run them well,” Kanda added.
“I met students who are excited about hands-on experiments and feel empowered to pursue careers that once seemed out of reach. Some come from families with limited resources, so having quality education makes a real difference. Teachers also mentioned that new teaching methods boost students’ confidence and improve attendance.”
Kanda said that ADB stands ready to continue partnering with the government and local stakeholders to ensure that these opportunities reach more students, especially those who need them most.
Long Sophea, Director of Hun Sen Chamkar Doung High School, said that ABD has helped build school buildings and provide computers, laboratories, libraries, and other infrastructure.
He said that his students’ studies have improved, noting that after ADB’s support, the quality of students’ studies in various fields has improved, including the results of the National High School Exam 2024, which has a pass rate of over 92 percent.
“I am really proud of the results that my school’s students and teachers have achieved, and they are very capable compared to other schools across the country. I would like to thank both the Royal Government and ADB, who are indispensable partners in improving the education sector,” Sophea emphasised.
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