January 27, 2026
According to MoEYS’s report 2024-2025, 43% of 3- to 5-year-old
children attend preschool—a statistic that demands action.
This is precisely the kind of challenge that the Network for
Early Childhood Care and Development (NECCD) was created to address. On January
27, 2026, members of this collaborative network gathered to plan for the year
ahead, bringing together representatives from organizations like Bandos Komar, PE&D,
PSE, Green Umbrella, CCFO, SVA, and NEP.
A Collaborative Vision
Rather than working in isolation, NECCD members are
embracing a powerful collaborative approach. The network has established a
clear vision: to strengthen existing systems so that all children under 6 can
access quality preschool education, daycare centers, and nursery wherever they
live.
The mission is equally focused: to implement key policies
for early childhood education at the district level through coordinated support
and capacity building.
From Vision to Action
What makes this initiative particularly promising is its
practical, community-centered approach. Organizations within the network are
committing to:
Supporting Local Planning: Working directly with
communes to develop plans that respond to actual needs of young children,
collecting crucial data about children aged 3-5, available teachers, and
necessary materials.
Building Infrastructure: Providing support for
constructing and operating preschool classrooms where they’re needed most.
Training Teachers: Ensuring regular training programs
for preschool teachers to maintain quality education standards.
Leveraging Resources: Helping communes utilize
village development funds for activities like flower gardens and other
educational enhancements.
Monitoring Progress: Tracking the implementation of
these activities to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
Two Paths Forward
Recognizing that different organizations have different
capacities and existing commitments, the network has outlined two options for
member participation:
Option 1: Organizations continue their existing
programs without specifically focusing on strengthening commune systems for
early childhood education.
Option 2: Organizations build upon their current work
by adding partnership activities with communes to create responsive plans that
meet children’s needs while building local capacity.
This flexibility allows each organization to contribute
meaningfully while respecting their individual missions and resources.
The Data That Drives Change
To ensure that planning is grounded in reality, the network
is collecting specific information from each working area:
- How
many children under 6 live in target villages and communes?
- What
is the breakdown by age (3, 4, and 5 years old) and gender?
- How
many functional preschools currently exist?
- How
many qualified preschool teachers are available?
- What
are the actual needs for new preschools and teachers?
This data-driven approach ensures that resources are
allocated where they can make the greatest impact.
Looking Ahead
The network has established a regular meeting
schedule—quarterly gatherings on the 27th of March, June, and September 2026—to
maintain momentum and coordination. Member organizations have until February
18, 2026, to decide their level of commitment, after which NECCD’s management
will compile a comprehensive annual plan.
Why This Matters
Early childhood education is not a luxury—it’s a foundation.
Research consistently shows that quality early learning experiences shape
cognitive development, social skills, and future academic success. By ensuring
that even the most remote and underserved children have access to preschool
education, Cambodia is investing in a generation that will be better prepared
to contribute to their communities and their nation.
The NECCD network represents something powerful: the
recognition that complex challenges require collaborative solutions. No single
organization can solve the early childhood education access gap alone, but
together, with shared vision, coordinated planning, and sustained commitment,
they can transform the educational landscape for Cambodia’s youngest learners.