Cambodia’s development has been significantly influenced by both historical and contemporary challenges. The Pol Pot regime (1975–1979) resulted in near total national collapse, with severe depletion of human resources and destruction of infrastructure. Subsequent decades of civil war, lasting until 1998, further impeded national reconstruction. In 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues, slowing economic growth and impeding advancements in human capital and infrastructure.

Rural livelihoods remain particularly vulnerable. Households frequently experience limited access to knowledge and skills, increasing indebtedness to financial institutions, and elevated migration rates. Poverty restricts parents’ capacity to prioritize their children’s education, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage. State-provided education continues to exhibit disparities between urban and rural schools. Persistent gaps in teaching and learning resources, as well as limited community and parental engagement, remain despite ongoing government efforts to improve the education system.