Heng Chivoan

A Phnom Penh student lights incense at a pagoda in an attempt to bring

good luck in her upcoming exams. Students across the Kingdom are

preparing for another round of testing, the results of which will be

declared on October 5.

THE Ministry of Education, Youth and

Sports has requested that the Phnom Penh Municipality provide armed

forces to maintain order for a two-day secondary school examination

that will take place starting September 19 at 33 examination centres

around Phnom Penh.

Oum Heung, director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports,

explained that the use of security can help prevent cheating that has

previously occurred during testing.

Oum Heung noted that people throwing photocopies from nearby shops into the testing rooms can "interrupt the candidates".

He asked for the deployment of 15 to 20 police to keep order during the two days of testing.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Choup Khon agreed, saying that "it is

necessary to keep social order", adding that "the photocopy shops

nearby the schools can cause anarchy, and authorities will close down

all shops near the school until the examination is ended."  

No bribes please

The Ministry of Education has also issued a news release asking parents

of secondary school students not to give bribe money to their children

to pass on to their teachers.

Chey Chap, undersecretary of state at the ministry, said education

officials want parents to encourage their children to study rather than

pass their exams by bribery.

Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association,

says he does not believe that the government has the capacity to stop

exam-related corruption.

Bribes are frequently given to teachers for test answers or passing marks.