Students attend the opening day of the government-supported vocational training campaign, which targets 1.5 million youths, in mid November. STPM
As of December 10, 2023, over 10,000 young people throughout the country have signed up for vocational and technical training for individuals from impoverished and vulnerable families, according to the Labour Ministry.
Katta Orn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, announced on December 11 that as of the previous day, a total of 11,610 youth (4,001 female) had registered for training courses nationwide.
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“We are observing a growing interest among youths across the country, and our enrolment numbers are increasing daily. This trend is a positive step towards encouraging more young people to join the programmes in both the capital and provinces,” he said.
Orn said that the courses spanned key sectors: Construction, electricity and energy, electronics, manufacturing, general automotive and auto mechanics, business and IT, services, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, tourism and agriculture and agro-industry.
He noted that training had not yet commenced.
“I urge youths nationwide, both from poor and vulnerable backgrounds and from factories, to take advantage of this opportunity. The government is providing vocational training to help youths acquire essential life skills, enabling them to secure stable, decent jobs to support their families and contribute to national development,” he added.
Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC), emphasised the significance of the training policy for the current workforce, highlighting the country’s ongoing shortage of skilled workers.
He pointed out that while schools are teaching vocational and technical skills, they are small and often expensive.
“I believe this is an excellent opportunity for our youths to enhance their skills, particularly in acquiring main technical skills that are in demand in the job market. Gaining a specific skill gives us an advantage in securing a well-paying job,” he said.
Prime Minister Hun Manet outlined plans to offer training to about 1.5 million young people from poor and vulnerable households at state institutions on November 14, free of tuition fees along with a monthly allowance.
At a recent graduation ceremony for youths from the Vocational Training Centre at NGO Mith Samlanh, labour minister Heng Sour encouraged students who did not pass their 12th-grade exams not to lose hope.
He said the ministry plans to be flexible in helping youths acquire vocational skills.
“We are committed to providing flexible options for you. Even if you don’t have 12th or 9th-grade certificates, you can start with your skills certificate today. If you wish to continue your education while working, we will pay the way for you to gradually continue,” he stated.
