AKP Phnom Penh, August 20, 2026 --

Nearly 500,000 Cambodian youths and citizens, particularly from low-income and vulnerable families, have received vocational and technical training over the past three years under Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s administration, official sources said Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, approximately 490,000 individuals were trained between September 2023 and June 2026. The initiative aligns with the Royal Government’s 7th-mandate Pentagonal Strategy–Phase 1, which prioritises human capital development to secure stable employment and boost household incomes.

Of the total trainees, roughly 415,000 were trained directly under ministry programmes, while 77,000 received training through the Skills Development Fund (SDF). More than 276,000 disadvantaged youths benefited from a targeted national technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programme designed to support 1.5 million underprivileged citizens.

"These results are not just numbers enrolled; they represent real skills, job opportunities, increased income, and a brighter future for our people," Ministry Spokesman Mr. Sun Mesa said.

To align education with market demand, the Ministry established 256 training qualifications across 116 skill areas and introduced 399 competency-based modules. Training infrastructure expanded to 263 public and private TVET institutions, with over 3,600 technical instructors undergoing further professional development.

The Ministry also strengthened private-sector partnerships, securing 1,260 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and collaborating with 6,218 industry partners over the 34-month period to ensure hands-on experience in workshops, laboratories, and factories.

"When a young person acquires a concrete skill, they transform not only their own life, but also support their family and contribute to national development," Mr. Mesa added, encouraging parents and youth to embrace vocational education to build a competitive workforce for Cambodia's economy.

By K. Rithy Reak