PM: Cambodia Trains 700,000 under TVET Initiative, Moving toward 1.5M Target

(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that approximately 700,000 people have received Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), progressing toward the government’s target of 1.5 million beneficiaries. The premier spoke on Monday (Jun. 15) during the celebration of the 9th National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2026. “From 2022 through mid-2026, the Ministry of Labour has provided vocational skills training to approximately 700,000 citizens,” the prime minister stated, praising the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training for its achievements. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet stated that the government has prioritised providing technical and vocational training to youth from poor and vulnerable households nationwide. More than 1.5 million eligible individuals are targeted to receive training at public vocational training institutions at Technical and Vocational Certificate Level 1, free and with a monthly stipend. This initiative represents the second of the six priority policy programs launched in 2023 under the Pentagonal Strategy–Phase I. He emphasised that the government is also working to develop a comprehensive TVET system in Cambodia that broadens public awareness, equips citizens with practical skills, strengthens ethics and discipline, and provides flexible training programs tailored to real-life circumstances. The ultimate goal is to achieve the vision of "one citizen, at least one lifelong skill" and to ensure that citizens have employable skills. On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet also instructed the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to collaborate on establishing a new vocational education pathway within Cambodia's education system. The initiative is currently being piloted in 49 high schools, offering students additional career-focused learning options beyond the traditional science and social science streams. Prime Minister Hun Manet officially launched the 1.5 million-person TVET training program for poor and vulnerable households on 14 November 2023. Participants receive free training and a 280,000-riel monthly allowance for four months. The TVET initiative has played a crucial role in strengthening Cambodia's workforce. From early 2024 to the first quarter of 2026, more than 270,000 people joined the programme. About 80 per cent of graduates secured jobs, while the remaining 20 per cent started their own businesses. The government continues to encourage young people to pursue vocational training as a pathway to employment, stable incomes, and poverty reduction.=FRESH NEWS