Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said at the first national council meeting of the National Association of Cambodian Scouts (NACS) on Tuesday in Kampong Thom province that scout activities will in future be connected with new technologies.

“The NACS’ activities are crucial and we want it not only to play an important role in strengthening the solidarity and brotherhood among youths in society, but we also want it to weld the policies and principles of NACS with technology,” Chuon Naron said.

He said in the future when youths have activities such as camping, the Ministry of Education will create additional assignments focused on new technologies.

“Youths have to be responsible and have high determination in order to make themselves world citizens who can work with those from other countries and contribute to economic and social development and become good resources for ensuring the peace and development for Cambodia."

“The National Association of Cambodian Scouts plays a crucial role in developing children and youths, and activities in the community. It also strengthens and trains children and youths to become an effective and loyal next generation for the country,” he said.

Chuon Naron said in order to achieve such a result, it is following the policy that the Ministry of Education has employed to train scouts at schools by forming children’s and youth councils.

“Therefore, through children and youth councils, we would like to strengthen our youths to understand their duties and assist each other in their studies. Thus, the main task of national scouts is to strengthen their studies,” he said.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training on Monday created a special group to press for increased understanding of digital technologies in the education sector and vocational and technical training.

The joint technical group for the education sector is named the Technical Working Group for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TWG-TVET). It will be led by Labour Minister Ith Sam Heng and will determine the prioritised strategies for 2019-2020.

“To be ready for the digital economy and in order to meet the fourth industrial revolution, all involved parties have to pay attention to skills development and education and training by including the use and understanding of technology in the curriculum in accordance with market demand.

“That also forms the mechanism of business partnerships and educational and vocational training institutions in order to establish a development programme and training of new digital skills,” Sam Heng said.

The TWG-TVET is tasked with providing recommendations for the strategic and technical plans of the Labour Ministry and the national training committee and coordinating and sharing the experiences, information, projects and programmes of education and technical training.

The technical working group will provide an annual report on the progress of national policy regarding education and technical and vocational training, legal documents and a budget plan. There will be an annual inspection of the TWG-TVET’s work.