PM Hun Manet Issues Recommendations to Strengthen Cambodia’s TVET Sector and Develop a Skilled Workforce

(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a series of important recommendations to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and other relevant institutions. These recommendations aim to advance the development of Cambodia's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, ensuring the production of a workforce equipped with practical skills, comprehensive knowledge, strong ethical standards, and discipline. The premier spoke on Monday (Jun. 15) during the celebration of the 9th National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2026, held under the theme "TVET Provides Skills, Jobs, and Income." The prime minister emphasised that enhancing the TVET sector is crucial to cultivating high-quality human capital, which will play a significant role in fostering Cambodia's long-term economic growth and competitiveness. In his first recommendation, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet urged the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to continue transforming the TVET system. Enhancing skills-training mechanisms and improving the overall skills development ecosystem are key components of this process. Reform of training curricula, expansion of reskilling and upskilling opportunities, enhancement of skill certification and competency assessment systems, and promotion of workplace training. He also highlighted the importance of aligning training programs with labour market demands through apprenticeship opportunities, work-based learning, and training programs driven by digital technology. Furthermore, the prime minister encouraged expanding mobile training services and additional training sessions to address the practical needs of citizens, particularly young individuals and workers in the informal economy. As his second recommendation, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet called upon the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to foster a high-quality education and training environment. He stressed the need to enhance governance in educational institutions, improve quality across all levels of education, implement Cambodia's "New Education Pathway" by integrating vocational training into upper-secondary education, expand New Generation Schools and model institutions, and advance digital education and infrastructure within training facilities. For his third recommendation, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet urged both the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and relevant institutions to improve the implementation effectiveness of the National Policy on Technical and Vocational Skills Development and the National Employment Policy, ensuring alignment with Cambodia's future industrial development agenda. He also called on the Supreme National Economic Council (SNEC) to expedite the creation of a new industrial policy framework that clearly identifies priority industries and production sectors, thereby aiding the determination of short-term, medium-term, and long-term skills requirements to support economic transformation. In his fourth recommendation, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet directed the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training to maintain collaboration with ministries, local authorities, development partners, and civil society organisations to successfully implement the government's flagship TVET program, which targets 1.5 million youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. He underscored the importance of designing training programs that align with local economic potential and labour market needs to facilitate job creation and bolster local economic development. In addition, the prime minister instructed relevant authorities to continue providing vocational training opportunities for Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand to help them adapt their skills to meet domestic labour market requirements. He advocated for the provision of free competency assessments and recognition of prior learning and skills for returning workers, thereby facilitating their seamless transition into employment opportunities within Cambodia. Prime Minister Hun Manet concluded by reaffirming that these measures are designed to ensure Cambodia's TVET sector produces a highly skilled workforce, equipped to meet the demands of a modern economy, while also promoting inclusive and sustainable national development.=FRESH NEWS