A Phnom Penh-based school serving children from one of the city’s most impoverished communities has been named the world’s best STEM school, marking a major international recognition for Cambodia’s education sector.
Neeson Cripps Academy, the flagship secondary school of Cambodian Children’s Fund, was awarded first place in the STEM category of the inaugural Global Schools Prize, selected from nearly 3,000 nominations across 113 countries.
The award was presented during the Education World Forum held in London on May 19, where the school was recognised for its innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and its transformative impact on students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Neeson Cripps Academy was the only school from Southeast Asia to reach the top 10 shortlist in the global competition, which is run by the Varkey Foundation.
The foundation describes the prize as a platform to identify and scale innovative schooling models that prepare students for the future.
From dumpsite community to global recognition
Founded in 2017 near the former Steung Meanchey dumpsite in Phnom Penh, the academy was built just 300 metres from what was once the city’s largest garbage dump, where many of its earliest students lived and worked as waste pickers.
Steung Meanchey has long been associated with extreme urban poverty, and the school’s establishment was part of a broader effort to provide structured education and long-term social mobility for families in the surrounding communities.
Today, the school serves around 500 students and delivers a curriculum centred on STEM and STEAM learning, supported by modern laboratories, digital technologies and hands-on applied science programmes.
Leadership and reaction
Founder and executive director of CCF, Scott Neeson, said the recognition reflected the collective effort of educators and supporters who have worked on the programme since its inception.
“It’s an honour to be recognised as one of the top schools in the world and best in STEM,” Neeson said.
“This award means so much to all of us. It’s a recognition of our education team, a truly remarkable group of individuals, and it also reflects the many unsung heroes who have supported us along the way,” he added.
He also acknowledged long-term contributor Robert Cripps for his role in supporting the school’s development in Steung Meanchey.
STEM-focused model and global partnerships
The academy’s education model emphasises practical STEM learning through robotics, coding, and applied science activities, including rooftop hydroponics and beekeeping.
The school has also developed partnerships with international institutions and technology companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, the University of Nottingham and Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom.
According to CCF, these collaborations are designed to strengthen teacher training and expose students to globally aligned technical standards and emerging technologies.
Academic outcomes and international competitions
The school reports a 99 per cent pass rate in Cambodia’s Grade 12 national examinations, with 39 per cent of graduates progressing into STEM-related university programmes.
Students from the academy have also represented Cambodia in international robotics competitions, including the World Robot Olympiad in Hungary in 2019 and Singapore in 2025, as well as the FIRST Global Challenge in Panama.
The institution also highlights strong female participation, with around 70 per cent of students at Neeson Cripps Academy being girls, alongside 74 per cent female participation among CCF university scholars.
Gender gap in STEM
While Cambodia continues to record low female participation in STEM fields compared with regional averages, the academy says it is actively working to address this imbalance by encouraging more girls to pursue science and technology pathways.
Global recognition
Founder of the Varkey Foundation, Sunny Varkey, said the award aimed to highlight schools that demonstrate innovation and measurable impact.
“He said the recognition of Neeson Cripps Academy was intended to inspire broader global efforts to reimagine education systems and expand access to high-quality learning,” according to CCF.
Wider impact
Beyond the STEM prize, Cambodian Children’s Fund has previously received international recognition, including awards for philanthropy and social development initiatives, reflecting its broader work in education and community support.
The Global Schools Prize is valued at $1 million and is considered one of the largest international awards of its kind in education, recognising schools that demonstrate exceptional ambition and measurable outcomes for students regardless of socioeconomic background.
