Technical assistance to support the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) to conduct qualitive research on 21st century skills for adolescents in Cambodia

Detailed description of project Back

Recognizing the foundational importance of 21st century skills, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) in Cambodia incorporated these competencies into the Policy for Curriculum Development 2005- 2009. The 2016 School Curriculum Framework further reinforced this by integrating Local Life Skill (LSE) program as a core subject at primary and lower secondary levels3. Supported by UNICEF, MoEYS has rolled out the Local Life Skills Education (LLSE) program, which aims at students’ soft skills development through a project-based and problem-based learning approach, to 185 schools nationwide. The recently launched Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2024-2028 further emphasizes the need for young Cambodians to develop skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, STEM competencies, and adaptability to succeed in a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape.

Despite MoEYS efforts to respond to the diverse needs of the 21st century, significant gaps and challenges persist within the education system. A recent survey from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (2024)4, showed that about 30% of companies experience skills gaps among their employees, primarily due to a lack of experience for specific roles (63%) and difficulty in securing skilled labour force (37%). This mismatch between the education system and the actual demands of the labour market has become a major constraint on Cambodia’s socioeconomic development. Moreover, insufficient information and understanding on how well the education system meets employers’ demands for essential skills hinders efforts to address these gaps effectively. Without this knowledge, it becomes challenging to design targeted policies and programs that align education with labour market needs.

For Cambodia to achieve sustainable growth, it is crucial to establish a structured framework and system for skills development based on a thorough analysis of the demand and supply of essential 21st century skills. This consultancy aims to provide an analysis of the skills currently being acquired by adolescents and the skills they need for the future to enhance their employability.

The purpose of this study is to clarify and provide a Cambodia contextualized definition of the 21st century skills in line with the global definition. It aims to identify the essential skills Cambodian young people need to thrive in an evolving social and economic landscape, incorporating perspectives from diverse stakeholders.

Additionally, the study seeks to analyze the gaps between the skills currently delivered by the education system, and those required to meet future workforce demands. Finally, the study will provide practical policy recommendations ensuring gender-responsiveness on how to fill these skills mismatch and gaps through interventions in education and other sectors.

Type of services provided

• Desk Review: a thorough review of different MoEYS policy documents and curriculum to get an idea of how 21st century skills are currently being defined and taught.
• Brief inception report that will include scope, a proposed methodology, gender analysis, data collection plan, stakeholders, sample size, a list of reviewed documents, and a detailed work plan. The report will also include a comprehensive risk assessment that identifies risks associated with the assignment and associated mitigation measures including child safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Tools Development and Data Collection: This research focuses on the experiences, perceptions, and aspirations of young people and their families, teachers, employers, civil society organizations (e.g., youth organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, indigenous peoples’ organizations), academia, and government officials.
• Data Analysis and First draft report: key findings related to all key research questions, and strategic and practical policy recommendations on how to fill the skills mismatch and gaps through interventions in education and other sectors.
• Final Report and Validation Workshop:

Key Personnel Provided:

• Team Leader: 75 w/d
• Technical Expert: 20 w/d
• Local Expert: 55 w/d