At the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, held in Doha, Qatar, from October 2-3, 2024, Cambodia and Qatar engaged in discussions focused on education reform. The summit, themed "Sports Diplomacy," primarily aimed to promote cooperation in sports among ACD members, but also served as a platform for bilateral talks on key educational strategies.
Representing Cambodia, Minister of Education Hang Chuon Naron met with Qatar's Minister of Education and Higher Education, Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, to exchange ideas on improving education systems. The discussions centered on student performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with both countries sharing insights on classifying school competencies and tailoring interventions based on PISA scores. Qatar's experience with PISA-based exams for 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th grades was a point of interest.
Vocational counseling and the link between technical education and higher education also featured prominently in the discussions. The ministers emphasized the importance of aligning skills training with market demands to help students choose clear academic paths.
The conversation further explored lifelong learning, teacher development, and integrating innovation into education through competitive research projects and digital transformation. Both countries stressed the need for quality assurance at both school and higher education levels.
Additionally, they discussed the delegation of general education to the sub-national level, ensuring consistent quality standards across schools. This bilateral meeting reflects both nations' commitment to advancing their education systems.
