Cambodia Pushes for Modernization of TVET Institutions, Labor Minister Encourages New Leadership

The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training in Cambodia is pushing for the modernization and quality improvement of its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. On August 7, 2026, Minister Heng Sour presided over a ceremony appointing Mr. Chin Tara as the new Director of the National Technical Training Institute (NTTI) and Mr. Tan Kosal as the new Director of the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC). The event, held at the Ministry's headquarters, was attended by ministry leaders, directors-general of the General Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and directors and deputy directors from the 37 TVET institutions under the ministry's purview. Minister Heng Sour warmly congratulated Mr. Chin Tara and Mr. Tan Kosal on their appointments, expressing confidence in their capabilities to lead and reform the institutes for greater quantitative and qualitative development. He also acknowledged and thanked the former directors, Mr. Bun Pharin of NPIC and Mr. Yok Sothy of NTTI, for their past achievements. The Minister instructed the new directors to lead their respective institutions with a spirit of internal unity and solidarity, emphasizing transparency and accountability. He urged them to build upon existing strengths and implement reform measures to enhance the effectiveness and quality of training. This includes strengthening instructor capabilities, modernizing equipment, materials, and curricula for both soft and hard skills to meet the evolving demands of industry and technology. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of reinforcing work discipline and professional ethics. He also recommended strengthening cooperation with the private sector and national-international partners to promote apprentice training, pre-employment skills testing and recognition, upskilling and reskilling initiatives, and research and innovation. Particular emphasis was placed on disseminating information about the TVET sector through enhanced collaboration with major companies, special economic zones, and local authorities. Minister Heng Sour expressed his firm belief that the new leadership, with the participation of all officials, staff, and instructors, will transform these institutes into leading TVET institutions in the region and centers of excellence. He anticipates that they will generate new achievements and train high-quality human resources in line with the high recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet. He underscored that the commitment and participation of all TVET institution leaders are crucial contributions to making the TVET sector play a more significant role in building skilled, technologically advanced, and innovative human capital. This human capital is essential for supporting Cambodia's economic and social development and for attracting foreign direct investment. On this occasion, Mr. Chin Tara and Mr. Tan Kosal expressed their gratitude and pledged to diligently fulfill the roles and responsibilities entrusted to them by the government and ministry leadership with a spirit of accountability, transparency, and efficiency.