Helping children to find their voice
At a primary school in Cambodia’s Tram Kok District, first grade junior infants read aloud from their storybooks, mimicking the movements of animals in the story. With arms stretched wide like wings, they flap with excitement, their faces lit up with joy as they bring each sentence to life.
“I liked being able to say the sentences I made in front of my friends. Everyone clapped for me,” says five-year-old Phatreaksa, who started Grade 1 earlier than most children her age.
This colourful scene is possible thanks to an Early Grade Learning (EGL) initiative introduced by Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), with support from UNICEF. The programme aims to instil an early love of learning in young children and help to improve attainment levels in core subjects like reading and arithmetic.
Pupils at a school in Takeo province (UNICEF Cambodia/2025/Hyejin Lee)
Learning through fun
Nationally, over 360,000 grade 1 students are benefitting from the EGL programme, which sees teachers use structured and engaging learning tools that make learning both more fun and more effective.
New student books, writing practice books, storybooks, flashcards, and colourful classroom visuals, funded with support from UNICEF, help students master Khmer letters and sounds in a step-by-step way.
“The lesson flow is much more natural now, and students actively participate in activities like using hand gestures to sound out and build words,” says Grade 1 teacher, Nop Chankev.
Phatreaksa sits next to her father while reading aloud (UNICEF Cambodia/2025/Hyejin Lee)
Phatreaksa loves to read aloud
Phatreaksa started Grade 1 earlier than most students her age. Despite being only five years old, she quickly adapted to school life and is now one of the best students in her class.
Her father, Sambath, is deeply involved in her education and actively supports her learning at home to reinforce what she learns at school.
“Phatreaksa didn’t used to be interested in letters, but these days she opens a book on her own and reads aloud at home,” he says.
“The old books had such small, cramped text that it was hard for children to read on their own. But now, books are easy to look at and fun. The lessons are clear, and she wants to try things by herself, which makes us happy, too.”
Protecting every child’s right to be heard
We believe that all children, whatever their circumstances, have the right to be heard, to thrive, fulfil their potential, be treated with dignity and participate in society.
In Cambodia, UNICEF works with young people to make their voices heard, and we work with partners – from the community to national level – to create long-term solutions that propel children and young people into the future.
UNICEF was one the first organisations to return to Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, leading the emergency response efforts. With 65 years of local expertise, our work in Cambodia aims to give children an environment in which they are protected, healthy and educated, so that they can build a better life for themselves and their country.
Students proudly write the word they just learned on their boards (UNICEF Cambodia/2025/Hyejin Lee )
Help create a brighter future for all children
You can help children like Phatreaksa around the world.