(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed that the Royal Government will not reduce the national budget allocated to the education and health sectors, emphasising that these sectors, along with human resource development, remain the government's top priority.

The premier spoke on Monday (Jun. 15) during the celebration of the 9th National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Day 2026, held under the theme "TVET Provides Skills, Jobs, and Income."

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet stated, "I would like to reiterate that the Royal Government has no plan to reduce spending or budget allocations for the education and health sectors. We plan to increase them, even as we continue to strengthen the national defence sector."

He noted that human resources are the foundation of national resilience, noting that strong human capital supports a robust economy and, in turn, long- term national security. He added that the government fully prioritises certain sectors and considers others less critical.

The prime minister further underscored that education, healthcare, and human resource development have been the government's top priorities across multiple mandates and will remain the foremost priority under the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei affirmed that the government will continue to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and has instructed relevant institutions to strengthen the quality of both soft and hard skills training.

According to Cambodia’s Medium Fiscal Framework 2027-2029, social service spending is projected to increase by 3.4 per cent in 2027, 8.3 per cent in 2028, and 5.0 per cent in 2029. Spending on defence, security, and public order is also expected to rise.

The government aims for the social services to account for about 4.82 per cent of GDP by 2027, focusing on education quality, healthcare access, skills development, social protection, gender equality, and sustainable development.
=FRESH NEWS