AKP Phnom Penh, March 05, 2026 --

Cambodian Secretary of State for Education, Youth and Sport H.E. Dr. Oung Borat participated in the 2026 ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) High-Level Forum held in Manila, the Philippines, on Mar. 4, according to an official statement.

H.E. Dr. Oung Borat, who also serves as Cambodia’s national representative to the ASCC Council, joined ministers, senior ASEAN officials, representatives of ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, and development and dialogue partners at the forum.

The meeting aimed to review key achievements and lessons learned from the implementation of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Vision 2025 and to identify priorities for advancing its strategic plans.

Participants also discussed strategies to empower ASEAN citizens to adapt, lead and build resilience through stronger social protection, education, innovation and civic engagement. The forum further sought to strengthen cross-pillar and cross-sector cooperation within ASEAN to promote inclusive growth, human security, sustainable development and social stability.

The gathering also encouraged new ideas and people-centred innovations aligned with ASEAN’s shared vision of community empowerment and collective resilience.

During the discussions, the Cambodian delegation outlined four priority areas for future human capital development.

These include strengthening foundational and digital competencies through innovative teaching approaches that encourage creativity, project-based learning, critical thinking and real-world problem solving.

Cambodia also highlighted the need to prepare students for the future of work by promoting career pathways, entrepreneurship, digital technologies and skills aligned with labour-market demands.

The delegation further emphasised the importance of developing national skills systems to support industry and labour productivity through upskilling, job training and reskilling initiatives.

In addition, Cambodia underscored the importance of digital competencies, including digital literacy, information assessment, cybersecurity awareness, effective communication, teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving, as well as adaptability, appreciation of cultural diversity, and self- and time-management skills.

By K. Rithy Reak