The 1993 National Constitution recognizes the right to education for all and states that “[t]he State shall protect and upgrade citizens’ rights to quality education at all levels and shall take necessary steps for equal education to reach all citizens. The State shall respect physical education and sports for the welfare of all Khmer citizens.” It further stipulates that “[t]he state shall adopt an educational programme according to the principle of modern pedagogy including technology and foreign languages. The state shall control public and private schools and classrooms at all levels.” The Education Law, promulgated in December 2007, stipulates that every citizen has the right to access quality education of at least nine years’ duration in public schools free of charge (IBE 2011). The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) is now preparing to create further legislative instruments and to bring existing decrees and sub-decrees in line with the Law (UNESCO 2010).

At the central level of government, education is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), which consists of four directorates general (Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports, Administration and Finance), the Inspectorate and the EFA Secretariat. Furthermore, there are 24 Provincial/Municipal Offices of Education and 193 District Offices of Education (DoE). Typically, provincial offices are in charge of upper secondary schools, while the district offices supervise lower secondary schools (IBE 2011).

Apart from the MoEYS, the provincial offices and the district offices of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) play an important role. Not only does MOWA promote gender equality in both the public and private sectors, it is one of the key partners of MoEYS in the provision of early childhood care and education, particularly regarding community preschools and home-based programmes. In 1996, the National Training Board was established, following the recognition of the need for a well-coordinated long-term development plan for technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Since 2004, TVET is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (IBE 2011).

In 2003, the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia was established with the main purpose to create a legal mechanism for administering accreditation of all higher education institutions. Furthermore, in accordance with the Education Law of 2007 a Supreme National Council for Education led by the Prime Minister has been established, with the main aim to prepare policy proposals and strategies which respond to the social and economic development of Cambodia (IBE 2011).