On 15 December 2025, the Royal Government of Cambodia issued Sub-Decree 254 on the Management of Nurseries (“Sub-Decree 254”), establishing a framework for the operation and establishment of nurseries for infants and young children, with the aims to promote holistic growth and development, strengthen human capital, alleviate the burden on parents and guardians, and enable them to earn income and participate in other activities.
Under Sub-Decree 254, “young children” refers to children from birth up to under six years of age, while “infant” refers specifically to a child from 0 month to 12 months of age.
The Sub-Decree applies to three types of nurseries: community, enterprise, and private nurseries located in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Community and private nurseries are supervised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (“MoEYS”), while enterprise nurseries fall under the authority of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (“MLVT”)”.
All community, enterprise, and private nurseries must:
- provide equitable and inclusive care and development services for infants and young children based on the principles of equity and inclusion;
- offer early learning opportunities;
- deliver responsive care services;
- ensure safety; and
- provide first aid.
Article 7 of Sub-Decree 254 establishes the minimum standards for nurseries, which must be complied with as outlined in the table below:
| Standards | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Location: | Nurseries must be situated in clearly designated areas with separate rooms to meet the needs of infants and young children. They must be in a safe, clean, quiet, and well-ventilated environment with adequate sunlight, minimal noise, and access to clean water. Nurseries must be equipped with nursery essentials including, administrative office, feeding room, bathroom and toilet, kitchen and dining area, sleeping room, playroom, and first aid room or kit. The minimum size and technical standards will be set by a Prakas of the MoEYS in consultation with relevant ministries. |
| Strategic Development Plan: | Nurseries must prepare a three-year plan outlining their vision, mission, objectives, goals, and an action plan with defined activities and resources. |
| Defined Management Structure: | Nurseries must maintain a clear management structure. For community and private nurseries, the structure will be set by the MoEYS. For enterprise nurseries, it will be determined by the MLVT. |
| Qualifications and Staffing: | Nursery staff must have appropriate qualifications and characteristics as prescribed by a Prakas of the MoEYS, in consultation with relevant ministries. Nurseries must also implement staff development programs. Staffing requirements include a minimum ratio of four (4) staff members for every twenty-five (25) infants and young children. Detailed regulations will be set out by Prakas. |
| Guidelines for Care, Education, and Health Screening: | Nurseries must adopt guidelines that promote well-being, nutrition, early learning, responsive care, and safety for infants and young children. |
| Programmes for Infant and young children Development: | Nurseries must provide programmes that promote holistic development through play and activities, covering physical health, cultural and moral values, social-emotional skills, cognitive awareness, and language. Specific requirements will be determined by a Prakas of the MoEYS. Nurseries must implement systems to manage and protect personal information about infants and young children. Procedures for data management and disclosure will be determined by Prakas of the MoEYS with consultation with relevant ministries. |
| Internal regulations: | Nurseries must adopt internal regulations for management in accordance with a Prakas of the MoEYS, in consultation with relevant ministries and institutions. |
Under Sub-Decree 254, the framework for establishing nurseries is as follows:
- Community nurseries: are established by order of the city, district, or khan governor upon request of the commune chief. The procedures governing their establishment will be set out in an inter-ministerial Prakas between MoEYS and Ministry of Interior;
- Enterprise nurseries: are established by employers of the enterprise to provide care for infants and young children of workers and employees in accordance with the Labour Law and other relevant regulations; and
- Private nurseries: are established by individuals or legal entities and are subject to accreditation by the MoEYS. Detailed procedures and criteria will be prescribed by Prakas issued by MoEYS.
The MoEYS (for community and private nurseries) and the MLVT (for enterprise nurseries) are mandated to monitor, supervise, and evaluate nurseries to ensure compliance and provide technical support. It is important to note that existing nurseries must meet the minimum standards set by Sub-Decree 254 within four years of its effective date.
The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situations.
