Over the last 20 years education policies in Cambodia have been driven by the global Education for All (EFA) campaign and have resulted in a rapid increase in the rates of primary education enrolment. However, the increasing number of children enrolling in schools has not always translated into high rates of primary education completion. Against this background the authors argue that while teachers play a significant role in keeping children in school and helping them to progress further in the education system, that role has been somewhat sidelined in the main debates about achieving EFA. They suggest that, while genuine problems exist with the qualifications and motivation of many Cambodian teachers, positive results could come from emphasizing their roles in achieving the wider goals of the education system and society, and thus promoting their active participation in furthering EFA.