Cambodia Flags TVET Instructor Quality as Critical Gap in Scaling Skills Training

CAMBODIA. Cambodianess (15 June 2026) - Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training to strengthen recruitment of qualified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instructors after discovering that some teachers were assigned to teach subjects beyond their expertise.

Speaking during the 9th National TVET Day​, Hun Manet said he was surprised to learn that lessons designed by one group of teachers were being delivered by another group that lacked the necessary experience.

The issue came to light when he questioned instructors teaching a class of 200 students. The teachers admitted they had experience teaching only Level 1 courses but had been assigned to deliver Level 2 lessons.

“To effectively teach technical skills, teachers must be well-prepared and knowledgeable,” Hun Manet said. “Their confidence and competence directly influence students’ learning. Ensuring a sufficient number of qualified teachers is the first step.”

He stressed that teacher quality is critical to the success of vocational education, warning that poorly prepared instructors risk passing on incorrect knowledge and skills to students.

“I support every initiative that expands learning opportunities, but quality must be guaranteed,” he said. “Without clear instruction and proper preparation, students may graduate without mastering the skills they need.”

Hun Manet also cautioned that enthusiasm alone does not guarantee effective learning, noting that active participation in training programs is often limited. In some cases, only about 20 percent of participants are fully engaged, he said.

He emphasized the need for rigorous quality assessment to ensure students acquire practical skills and knowledge that meet industry standards.

According to Hun Manet, from 2024 to April 2026, about 271,000 people received skills training. Of those, 229,000 studied at TVET institutions under the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, while another 42,000 were trained through the Skills Development Fund.

He said creating employment opportunities remains a government priority and has driven policy shifts over the past three decades. Since the 1990s, Cambodia has gradually expanded its focus beyond the garment sector to include vocational training in science, technology, and computer-related fields.

The government has introduced a range of policies aimed at equipping Cambodians with skills that match labor market demands, he said.

Hun Manet said human capital development is a central pillar of the Pentagonal Strategy–Phase 1, which identifies technical and vocational training as a key priority. Under the strategy, the government is providing free skills training to around 1.5 million people from poor and vulnerable households.

He added that vocational training programs have also been extended to Cambodian workers returning from Thailand, helping them develop skills and secure livelihoods at home.

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