Cambodia will maintain its spending on education and healthcare in the 2027 national budget, Prime Minister Hun Manet has pledged, reaffirming that human capital development remains the government’s top priority for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Speaking on October 28, 2026, at a gathering with more than 2,000 students who achieved Grade A in the 2026 High School Diploma Examination and the Level 3 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) examination, Hun Manet emphasised that every young Cambodian should acquire at least one practical skill to contribute to their family, community and society.
The Prime Minister said human capital development requires investment in health, knowledge, skills and livelihoods, adding that improvements in education and healthcare are essential to Cambodia’s long-term national development.
Key Facts
2027 budget commitment: The government says education and healthcare spending will not be cut.
Human capital priority: Health, knowledge and skills, and livelihoods are the three pillars highlighted by the Prime Minister.
Student gathering: More than 2,000 high-achieving students attended the October 28 event.
2026 high school examination: 125,975 candidates passed, representing an 84.06% pass rate.
Grade A achievers: 2,022 students received the highest grade.
TVET emphasis: The government is encouraging young people to acquire at least one practical skill.
Defence spending: Hun Manet said the defence budget would also increase, while education and healthcare allocations would be maintained.
Human Capital Remains Cambodia’s Top Development Priority
PM Hun Manet reaffirmed that developing human resources in both quantity and quality is essential to Cambodia’s national progress.
He highlighted the role of education in strengthening the economy, commerce and services sector, noting that a more capable workforce can help the country take advantage of emerging development opportunities.
“The Royal Government of Cambodia will continue to further develop the education and health sector and enable the country to seize opportunities for national development,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks place human capital development at the centre of the government’s approach to sustainable growth. The emphasis extends beyond academic education to include healthcare, vocational competencies and access to employment opportunities.
For Cambodia, these areas are closely connected: a healthy population with relevant skills and access to education can contribute to a more productive workforce and broader economic participation.
Education and Healthcare Spending to Be Protected in 2027
The Prime Minister said social welfare, particularly education and healthcare, accounts for a significant share of government expenditure.
He assured the public that the 2027 national budget would not reduce allocations for the two sectors, even as the government plans to increase defence spending.
The commitment signals the government's intention to maintain investment in essential public services while responding to other national spending priorities.
However, the announcement does not specify the total education and healthcare budgets for 2027, their proposed year-on-year growth rates or how funding will be distributed among schools, universities, vocational institutions and healthcare facilities.
Those details will be important in determining how the commitment translates into actual services and outcomes.
Maintaining allocations would provide continuity, but improvements in educational quality, healthcare access and workforce development will also depend on how funds are allocated and implemented.
Government Encourages Every Young Person to Develop a Practical Skill
Hun Manet urged young people to acquire at least one skill that can help them contribute to their families, communities and the wider economy.
The message reinforces the importance of combining academic learning with practical capabilities that can be applied in employment, entrepreneurship and daily life.
Technical and vocational education is one route for developing these capabilities. Depending on the programme, vocational training can prepare learners for occupations in areas such as manufacturing, construction, tourism, hospitality, technology and services.
The Prime Minister’s remarks also align with the broader goal of strengthening links between education and labour-market requirements.
For young Cambodians entering the workforce, the value of skills development depends on whether training matches employer demand, equips learners with recognised competencies and provides pathways into employment or business opportunities.
The announcement did not specify new vocational training targets, additional funding or particular sectors that would receive priority under future programmes.
Cambodia’s 2026 High School Examination Results
According to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, 125,975 candidates passed the 2026 High School Diploma Examination, achieving a pass rate of 84.06%.
The results were distributed across five grade categories.
| Grade | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| Grade A | 2,022 |
| Grade B | 8,848 |
| Grade C | 23,422 |
| Grade D | 44,869 |
| Grade E | 46,814 |
| Total successful candidates | 125,975 |
Grade A candidates represented approximately 1.35% of all successful candidates. Grade D and Grade E together accounted for 91,683 students, highlighting the range of academic results among those who passed.
The gathering recognised high-achieving students and reinforced the government's emphasis on education as a foundation for future development.
The figures provided by the ministry describe examination outcomes, but do not by themselves establish broader trends in educational quality, learning outcomes or the transition from secondary school into higher education and employment.
Why Education, Healthcare and Skills Matter for Economic Growth?
Human capital investment can influence Cambodia’s development through several channels.
Workforce productivity: Better education and relevant vocational skills can help workers perform more effectively, adopt new technologies and respond to changing business needs.
Business competitiveness: Employers need workers with the technical, digital and professional competencies required to improve service quality and operational efficiency.
Public health and participation: Access to healthcare supports individual wellbeing and can help people participate more consistently in education and employment.
Inclusive economic opportunities: Accessible education and training can help more people pursue employment, entrepreneurship and career advancement.
Long-term resilience: A workforce with adaptable skills can be better prepared for changes in technology, industrial structures and labour-market demand.
These are potential benefits of sustained investment, rather than outcomes demonstrated by the examination figures or the budget announcement alone.
Angkor Times Analysis: Budget Protection Must Translate Into Measurable Results
Hun Manet’s commitment to protect education and healthcare spending in 2027 provides a clear policy signal that human capital remains a government priority, even as defence spending is expected to rise.
The next question is how that commitment will be reflected in the budget and in the services experienced by Cambodian households, students, workers and businesses.
Maintaining expenditure is an important starting point, but spending quality and measurable outcomes will determine its long-term value. For education, relevant indicators include learning outcomes, teacher development, access to vocational training and the ability of graduates to secure employment. For healthcare, service accessibility, quality and affordability are equally important.
The call for every young person to acquire at least one skill is also economically relevant. Cambodia’s businesses need workers who can combine foundational education with practical, technical and digital competencies. Achieving that goal requires coordination among schools, TVET institutions, employers and government agencies.
Three areas deserve particular attention as the 2027 budget moves forward:
Transparent budget allocations: Publish detailed education and healthcare allocations so the public can assess whether funding is maintained and how it is distributed.
Stronger links between skills and employment: Expand cooperation between vocational institutions and employers to ensure that training responds to real workforce demand.
Outcome-based monitoring: Measure whether spending improves learning, healthcare access, recognised qualifications and employment prospects.
For Cambodia’s long-term competitiveness, human capital development must be treated as an investment in productivity, social wellbeing and economic resilience. The government's budget commitment will be most meaningful if it is accompanied by clear implementation plans and measurable improvements in people's lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Cambodia’s top priority for sustainable development?
Prime Minister Hun Manet has identified human capital development as Cambodia’s top priority, highlighting education, healthcare, skills and livelihoods.
2. Will Cambodia cut education and healthcare spending in 2027?
Hun Manet said the 2027 national budget would not reduce spending on education and healthcare, even though defence spending is also expected to increase.
3. How many students passed Cambodia’s 2026 High School Diploma Examination?
A total of 125,975 candidates passed, representing an 84.06% pass rate, according to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
4. How many students received Grade A in 2026?
The ministry reported that 2,022 candidates achieved Grade A in the 2026 examination.
5. Why is TVET important to Cambodia’s development?
Technical and vocational education can provide practical, job-related skills that help young people enter employment, improve their capabilities and respond to labour-market needs.
6. What are the three pillars of human capital highlighted by Hun Manet?
The Prime Minister identified health, knowledge and skills, and livelihoods as essential pillars of human capital development.
7. Does the announcement specify the 2027 education and healthcare budgets?
No. The announcement confirms that spending will not be reduced but does not provide the proposed budget amounts, year-on-year changes or detailed allocations.