The Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron told more than 4,500 youths that they need knowledge, soft skills and life skills to solve problems and communicate with colleagues in their future careers.

Chuon Naron made his remarks during the Cambodian Entrepreneurship Day on September 21. The occasion was celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship and to encourage participation in exchanging ideas, opinions, experiences and creativity among youths.

The minister said voluntary work is important for youths to help the community and government to organise ceremonies, as well as help themselves. Voluntary work had guided youths to gain experience in problem-solving, which in turn helps them find jobs, he said.

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesman Ros Soveacha told The Post on Monday that entrepreneurship can nurture leadership among youths to become active citizens who participate in developing society, culture and the economy.

The spirit of entrepreneurship had also strengthened the culture of creative thinking and innovation, he said. It promotes the creation of their businesses, the possibility of receiving instructive services for business and work and information on the job market.

“Youths receive training in entrepreneurship by using a tool to develop an enterprise in the community, gain knowledge about business and business plans,” he said.

Last year, the ministry adopted the Cambodian youth development indicator to be a source of information for the development of youths.

The number of youths and school children who joined the Cambodian Youths and Children Councils in public schools had also increased, he added.

Soveacha said a number of youths who received training in short courses, volunteer jobs, leadership, entrepreneurship and through the scout’s movement had achieved their set goals.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) national project coordinator Sou Socheata told The Post on Monday that the ministry had trained 12,500 youths in entrepreneurship outside schools, such as during the Cambodian Entrepreneurship Day.

She said training in entrepreneurship was intended for youths to know whether they had enough qualities to become an entrepreneur. And once they knew enough about themselves, they could decide to become entrepreneurs or be employed.

“They would know which one is a proper path for occupations and jobs in their future when they are ready to generate an income,” she said.