UNICEF and KMH Foundation Partner to Expand Access to Early Childhood Education in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, 2 OCTOBER 2026 — UNICEF Cambodia and the Kang Meng Huy Foundation Organization (KMH Foundation), ISI GROUP's foundation for community impact, have signed a Contribution Agreement to expand access to safe, inclusive, and quality early childhood education for young children in underserved and remote communities. Under the partnership, six community preschool (CPS) classrooms will be constructed in Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri provinces and equipped with age-appropriate teaching and learning materials, furniture, and playground equipment, benefiting 150 pre-school children aged 3–5 each year.  

“Foundational learning in the early years lays the groundwork for children to succeed in school and throughout their lives, shaping how they learn, grow, and eventually contribute to their communities and country,” said Ms. Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative to the Kingdom of Cambodia. “We are very grateful to the KMH Foundation for its commitment to giving young children a strong start in life, wherever they live, and for investing in a more equitable and inclusive future for Cambodia.”

In Cambodia, pre-school enrollment is low nationwide, with only 43 per cent of children aged 3–5 attending pre-school, leaving many children unprepared when they begin formal education and missing out on critical early windows of development. Investing in early childhood development (ECD) is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve sustainable economic growth. For governments, the economic return can be as high as US$13 for every US$1 spent on ECD interventions¹.

“This partnership reflects our continued commitment to supporting communities across Cambodia,” said Mr. Kang Leng, Chairman of ISI Group. “Working with UNICEF Cambodia, KMH Foundation is proud to help expand access to quality early childhood education and give children in underserved communities a stronger start in life.”

Community pre-schools play an important role in reaching young children in rural areas with foundational early learning. Cambodia currently has more than 4,300 community pre-schools nationwide, many of which serve children in remote and underserved communities. However, the quality of facilities remains uneven, with some schools operating in temporary or unsuitable spaces and with limited resources, making it difficult to provide young children with safe, inclusive, and stimulating environments for learning and play.  

The six new classrooms will be constructed in remote communities where standard pre-school facilities are lacking and access to state pre-school services is limited. Each classroom will be equipped with essential furniture and learning resources, including child-sized tables and chairs, playground equipment, teaching aids, and age-appropriate early childhood education materials. These resources will support play-based learning and help teachers create engaging environments where children can explore, interact, and develop essential cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills.

Together, these interventions aim to increase pre-school enrolment among children aged 3–5 in the target areas, while helping ensure that children have access to safe and well-equipped spaces in which to learn and develop.

The partnership complements UNICEF’s wider support to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to increase enrollment and strengthen the quality of community pre-school education nationwide, including teacher capacity development and the provision of play-based teaching and learning materials.

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Download the photos of the event here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EosSDgSH-HNjKMv2GoqM5iFiqrsviTyy?usp=share_link  

¹ Early Childhood Development - UNICEF Vision for Every Child.pdf, 2023