Cambodian Minister Encourages Youth to Acquire Digital Skills and Foreign Languages

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport of Cambodia, Hang Chuon Naron, strongly encouraged students to acquire digital skills and foreign languages at an event held in Phnom Penh. This initiative is part of the nation's efforts to cultivate high-caliber human resources essential for sustained economic development and enhanced international competitiveness. During the event, the Minister congratulated students who achieved excellent results in the 2025-2026 academic year's high school diploma examinations, emphasizing the importance of their hard work and the support from their teachers and families. He urged the students to choose specialized fields that align with their capabilities and interests, and to further enhance their digital literacy, foreign language proficiency, as well as their ethics and discipline. Minister Naron reflected on the struggle against the Khmer Rouge regime in 1978 and the path of recovery and development in Cambodia's education sector since 1979, noting that current progress has been achieved by overcoming numerous difficulties. He stressed the importance of young people acquiring knowledge and skills to contribute to the nation and its people, and to participate in economic and social development. Furthermore, he encouraged vocational training, mentioning that the government offers free vocational training programs, particularly for youth from poor and vulnerable backgrounds. This aims to enable young people to acquire solid skills and find employment that can improve their livelihoods and support their families. At the event, outstanding students were awarded incentives and prizes. Students with an 'A' grade received a motorcycle, those with a 'B' grade received cash, and students with a 'C' grade received incentives. Support was also extended to students with 'D' and 'E' grades, as well as teachers and the school. These encouragements and support are intended to contribute to the promotion of the education sector and to boost the motivation of young people to study diligently, develop their capabilities, and prepare to contribute to the nation's societal construction and development in the future. Following the event, Minister Naron visited Chong Che High School in Chong Che district to understand the school's operational status and its necessary support. He also inspected the progress of a house being built for Ya Sok Chun, an 80-year-old destitute elder with a severely impoverished life residing in Chong Che village. This marks the sixth house that Minister Naron and his wife have helped construct for impoverished elders in the Chong Che commune. Minister Naron stated that mutual assistance with a spirit of generosity is crucial for building a society filled with smiles and hope. These activities demonstrate attention to the education sector and the welfare of citizens, especially the elderly without support and the impoverished, thereby contributing to the improvement of living standards and social development at the local level.