Stronger STEM strategy needed to be upper-middle income by 2030
vocational training takes place over shorter periods.
STEM literacy that drives innovation is a necessary component for Cambodia to move forward and to address the issue of skill shortages in various industries.
Information technology and health are reported to be the sectors suffering from a severe supply problem as regards highly skilled STEM workers.
The past 20 years of robust growth were driven by foreign aid, foreign Cambodia $676 million to pay for the tariffs.
In addition, there have been growing concerns from various analysts, such as Saadia Zahid, Erik Brynjolfsson and Suzanne Fortier, that many current jobs may become obsolete and new jobs will be created as a result of what has been termed “Industrial Revolution 4.0”.
Advanced technology and automation will replace human labour in low-skilled production that historitechnology mentioned previously.
Technological and skills transfers stemming from FDI will be key to Cambodia’s growth, making it crucial now to support the development of a labour force that is equipped with solid training in STEM fields in order to attract that type of FDI to Cambodia.
The government’s approach to STEM in recent years has been generally positive, in terms of shifting public attention and supporting student interest in STEM-related subjects and education.
Rapidly changing global economy
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has been actively involved and initiated various projects relating to STEM, eg the development of STEM infrastructure (New Generation Schools), the development of STEM curriculums, and various STEM educational and outreach events that aim to ignite interest in STEM subjects to targeted audiences across the Kingdom.
Nevertheless, STEM education is not yet widely adopted and implemented throughout the country.
More STEM-focused schools are required to supply Cambodian youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in a rapidly changing global economy.
Policy-makers should address and encourage private schools to begin to establish and integrate a STEM agenda into their curriculum.
The cost of implementing high quality STEM education throughout the country will be a significant financial burden for the government, necessitating a fresh consideration of public-private partnerships and enhancing the role of the private sector in supporting STEM education in the Kingdom.
Cambodia cannot rely on a lowskilled labour force if growth is to be maintained and upper middle income status is to be achieved – this is simply not feasible in the long term.
Rather, Cambodia needs to move forwards and shift more rapidly towards STEM and ICT in order to ensure the Kingdom’s long term growth and development.