Cambodian officials gain skills to review national technical and vocational education and training policy

© Department of Policy and Strategy (DPS), Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), Cambodia

PHNOM PENH (ILO news) – Officials from Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) have further enhanced their skills to conduct an evidence-based and comprehensive review of Cambodia’s National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy 2017–2025.

In collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), MLVT organized a three-day training from 26 to 28 November 2025 for over 30 of its officials to support the policy review and policy development process. Participants included representatives from key MLVT departments involved in reviewing the current TVET policy and members of the working group tasked with drafting the National TVET Policy.

Participants developed the ability to identify and define policy questions to address challenges within the skills system, apply evidence-based policymaking grounded in reliable data, evaluate sources of evidence and effectively communicate findings. The training complemented ongoing technical assistance provided by the ILO throughout the policy review process, which started in July 2025.

The National TVET Policy 2017–2025, approved by the Royal Government of Cambodia in June 2017, serves as a roadmap to enhance workforce skills and competitiveness. Its vision is to improve livelihoods and dignity by equipping Cambodian workers with knowledge, skills, and professional ethics for lifelong employability and competitiveness.

The review comes at a critical juncture as Cambodia approaches the end of its current TVET policy cycle and prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029.

“Reviewing the National TVET Policy 2017-2025 is essential to ensuring that our skills development system remains responsive to the evolving needs of the economy and strengthens the country’s competitiveness. This workshop strengthens our capacity in performing a comprehensive policy review independently and more effectively, which help us make informed decisions that will shape the next phase of TVET policy,” said Thorng Samon, Deputy Director-General of TVET, MLVT.

© Mary Kent, ILO

“As Cambodia prepares for LDC graduation, a strong, evidence-based TVET system will be vital to sustain inclusive economic growth. This workshop underscores the ILO’s commitment to promoting decent work and lifelong learning, while ensuring that future policies are inclusive and gender-sensitive, and geared toward building a workforce that is adaptable, competitive and prepared for the future of work,” said Tun Sophorn, ILO National Coordinator for Cambodia.

“The training provided me with practical tools to identify data sources for key performance indicators and to formulate review findings using the results-chain approach. These skills will directly strengthen my ability to analyze and synthesize data, prepare the review report for the TVET Policy 2017-2025, and contribute to developing a forward-looking strategy for skills development,” said Nuon Sovannda, Chief of Policy and Strategy Office, Department of Policy and Strategy, MLVT.

The technical assistance for the review of the National TVET Policy 2017-2025 and the workshop were made possible through the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia (DEY) Project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Since its launch in September 2017, the DEY project has played a pivotal role in strengthening Cambodia’s TVET system and promoting decent work opportunities for youth.