Good practices in TVET for disadvantaged young people in rural Cambodia

Unemployment is an issue, particularly for out of school young people, that the Cambodian Government through the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) is seeking to address. This challenge is compounded for young people in rural communities - particularly for those who may have a disability, have limited school education or are from ethnic minority communities. The four year Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Young People (VTDYP) project initiated as a partnership among PLAN INTERNATIONAL, Regional/Provincial Training Centers and MoLVT between 2014-2017 sought to address...  [+] Show more

Unemployment is an issue, particularly for out of school young people, that the Cambodian Government through the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) is seeking to address. This challenge is compounded for young people in rural communities - particularly for those who may have a disability, have limited school education or are from ethnic minority communities. The four year Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Young People (VTDYP) project initiated as a partnership among PLAN INTERNATIONAL, Regional/Provincial Training Centers and MoLVT between 2014-2017 sought to address this issue within the Ratanakiri, Siem Reap Tboung Khmum provinces in Cambodia. The project, funded by [Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] DFAT, was implemented by PLAN INTERNATIONAL CAMBODIA through PLAN INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA.

The research investigated the project's 'Comprehensive Training' model which was underpinned by a holistic, learner-focused approach that focused on the identification of the neediest young people within targeted communities and engaged them in experiential learning that would enable them to gain employment or start their own business relatively quickly. Using an investigative process that included document analysis, semi-structured interviews with 41 respondents and on-site observations, the research identified 12 practices, spread across the pre-training, training and post-training phases of the VTDYP, that were key features of the project and could be considered for initiatives of a similar kind in Cambodia. While the good practices identified in the research are acknowledged, a number of areas for improvement were also identified and these are also discussed.

Published abstract.