Empowering Cambodia’s Future: Celebrating Veng Chanthy’s Contribution to Education

On World Teachers’ Day, 5 October 2026, we celebrate the dedication and contributions of educators who are helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive future for Cambodia. Among them is Veng Chanthy, an educator and teacher-mentor with more than a decade of experience in teaching, teacher mentoring, and education development.

Chanthy began her career in 2015 as a kindergarten teacher assistant, including supporting children in special education. She became an official secondary school teacher in 2018 and progressed to become a teacher-mentor in 2021. She currently works with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and also serves as a postgraduate lecturer at a university.

Throughout her career, Chanthy has contributed to strengthening teachers’ and learners’ research capacity in higher education. Her recent work has focused particularly on disability and inclusive education, helping to promote stronger research and more inclusive practices across schools, classrooms, and education programs.

For Chanthy, supporting teachers is one of the most meaningful aspects of her work because helping one teacher can positively influence many learners and communities.

Chanthy completed a Master of Education specialising in Digital Learning at Monash University in 2025. She describes the Australia Awards Scholarship as a significant milestone in both her personal and professional development.

Reflecting on her experience in Australia, she shared:

“Exposing and adapting myself to the Australian education system truly broadened my perspectives and equipped me with new skills and knowledge. Moving from a local to an international and multicultural setting transformed my approach to education and deeply influenced my professional background. This experience motivates me to introduce and promote fresh perspectives within Cambodia’s education sector, enriching our communities through diverse knowledge and experiences.”

Chanthy believes that teaching goes beyond simply transferring knowledge. It is about motivating, nurturing, and empowering every student to create positive change. On World Teachers’ Day, she shares the following message with teachers:

“Teaching goes beyond simply passing on knowledge. It is about motivating, nurturing, and empowering every student and individual to ignite change.”

She also emphasises the importance of continuous professional development, practical resources, mentoring, and supportive work environments. Chanthy encourages teachers to keep learning, reflecting, and believing in the potential of themselves and their students. As she reminds us, when we invest in teachers, we invest in the future of our learners and communities.

We sincerely congratulate Chanthy Veng on her valuable contributions to education in Cambodia and thank her for her continued commitment to empowering teachers, supporting inclusive education, and inspiring the next generation of learners.