A Tokyo-based startup has recently established a Japanese-style kindergarten in Cambodia to address the shortage of teachers in the country. Wonderfy Inc, renowned for its cognitive development apps for young children, has launched this school in Phnom Penh and plans to expand its operations nationwide. The opening ceremony of the school took place last month, where Kei Kawashima, Chief Creative Officer of Wonderfy, highlighted that the kindergarten will provide game-based lessons—a strategy highly praised by Cambodian officials.
Cambodia’s education system has faced challenges since the Khmer Rouge regime’s brutal killings between 1975 and 1979 targeted intellectuals and educators. As a result, there is only one public institution in the country that trains kindergarten teachers. Consequently, only 65 percent of five-year-olds receive preschool education, according to Prak Kosal from the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport.
Daiki Watanabe, head of Wonderfy’s local branch, expressed that untrained locals often end up serving as teachers due to limited resources in certain areas. To combat this issue effectively, Wonderfy’s kindergarten operates under the guidance of a director with experience in early childhood education from Japan. The school collaborates with Mammy’s Family—a childcare provider based in Matsuyama—to ensure smooth operations.
Since March this year, approximately 40 children aged between two and six years old have enrolled at Wonderfy’s kindergarten—this includes both Japanese nationals and local students. While English serves as the primary language for instruction at the school, Japanese-language lessons and app-based learning materials are also available upon request.
The establishment of this Japanese-style kindergarten by Wonderfy Inc aims to alleviate Cambodia’s shortage of qualified teachers while providing quality early childhood education opportunities for young learners across different nationalities residing in Phnom Penh.