Legacy of Khmer Rouge on Skill Formation in Cambodia

Abstract

This paper explores the effects of the demographic shocks related to the genocide of Khmer Rouge regime and their implications on skill formation in Cambodia. We found that the mass and targeted massacre created a deep hole in the middle-aged and the educated. After the end of the regime and the subsequent transition periods, baby boom followed. This baby-boom generation youth had difficulty in finding qualified teachers at schools and experienced mentors at workplaces and this led to the breaks of the intergenerational link of human capital transfer in Cambodia. Unfortunately, the current curriculum design of the TVET and general education in Cambodia is biased against the skill needs of the Cambodian labor market. Fixing these problems is an urgent issue for the sustainable development in Cambodia.