PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen, at the request of the Minister of Culture, Phoeurng Sackona, has decided to establish a minimum quota of 2-4% of all 1.5 million vocational training students to receive training in traditional Khmer cultural arts and crafts.

Speaking during the meeting to award 1,049 A-level students from the 2021-2022 academic year, on Thursday morning, 2 February 2023, the Prime Minister said that this decision is to help preserve the practice of traditional Khmer arts handed down from ancestors, by providing teachings on the technical skills needed to engage in this craft.

"Including pottery, our ancestors left behind [practices of] weaving, and we need to be afraid of [these traditional arts skills and practices] from disappearing," he said.

This vocational training will be provided for free, and will include a monthly stipend for students provided by the Royal Government.

This plan for traditional arts and crafts vocational training will be implemented in the next mandate.