3-12-2025 (PHNOM PENH) Cambodia has plunged to the very bottom of the 2024 EF English Proficiency Index, scoring a dismal 392 out of 800 and earning the lowest “very low proficiency” rating among 116 countries and regions. The annual report from Education First (EF), released Tuesday, shows Cambodia slipping two spots from 114th last year, with a 10-point score drop that underscores widening gaps in language education.
Neighboring nations fared better: Thailand ranked 101st with a score of 426, Vietnam climbed to 76th at 484, and Laos held at 111th with 407. Globally, the Netherlands topped the list at 647, while South Africa placed last among African nations but above Cambodia overall. Experts attribute the decline to limited access to quality English instruction, especially in rural areas where resources are scarce and teachers often lack advanced training.
Urban Phnom Penh residents score higher, but nationwide efforts lag, hampered by poverty and a curriculum prioritizing Khmer over foreign languages. The index, based on tests from over 2.1 million adults, highlights English as key to Cambodia’s tourism and garment export economy, yet proficiency stalls foreign investment and job mobility. Government officials have pledged curriculum reforms, including more teacher training, but implementation remains slow amid budget constraints.
