Phnom Penh – In a significant move to enhance educational cooperation, Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) and Osaka Christian College of Japan (OCC) held discussions focused on their collaborative efforts in the field of education.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting, which took place on November 12, was led by H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MoEYS, and Mr. Masakuni Negishi, the head of the visiting OCC delegation. This discussion marks a continued effort to strengthen educational ties between Cambodia and Japan.

Mr. Masakuni Negishi detailed OCC’s collaboration with Hiroshima House, an NGO, in executing a kindergarten project in Phnom Penh. This initiative offers free education for young children and aims to contribute to Cambodia’s human resource development, starting at the kindergarten level.

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron expressed his appreciation for OCC’s involvement in Cambodia’s educational development. He emphasized the high priority given by the Kingdom and MoEYS to early childhood education, recognizing its critical role in the overall development of the country’s human resources.

Currently, OCC is engaged in a partnership with the Royal University of Phnom Penh. This collaboration includes promoting scholarships, student exchange programs, and joint research initiatives. A significant aspect of this partnership is the implementation of a Japanese language curriculum targeted at high school students. The program is designed for students who aspire to study at OCC or other Japanese institutions and those interested in working in Japan.

The educational program is set to commence with two schools in the Cambodian provinces of Prey Veng and Kampot. Plans are underway to expand this initiative to more high schools in the future, indicating a broadening scope of educational cooperation between Cambodia and Japan.

This collaborative effort between Cambodia and OCC is a testament to the growing international partnership in the field of education, aimed at enhancing opportunities and resources for students at various educational levels.