Government officials honor 66 of the nation’s top achievers

Sixty-six students recently received awards from the Phnom Penh governor for outstanding performance on the national exam. The ceremony was held on September 29 at the Wat Koh High School.

Chea Cheath, director of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, said that students from ninth to 12th grade and from all provinces competed, with the highest scores selected from the cohort.

There are three key subjects in which all participating students are evaluated – Khmer literature, mathematics and physics.

“It is a good example for the other students to be encouraged, that they also wish to excel and be outstanding. The results that they have are because of their hard work, and not due to sheer luck,” Chea Cheat said during the awards delivery.

He emphasised that these students were productive and diligent, not frittering away their time, but using it to read a variety of books and absorb knowledge from their teachers.

“Teachers and students’ parents should push their students and children to study harder, so as to be honourable to their schools, family and at a community and national level,” said Chea Cheat.

According to Kep Chuktema, the Phnom Penh governor, this was the ninth time an awards ceremony was delivered, recognising academic excellence of outstanding students.

“They are valuable as good human resources, and in the future they can become leaders important to developing our country.

Knowledge is vital for the development of the nation, Kep Chuktema added. “Students today are fortunate to have the knowledge accessible at their fingertips as they can use the Internet and other equipment or resources to check information that they require.”

Ron Evaraly, a representative from the cohort of outstanding students, said that success was not difficult for her as long as she put her best foot forward.

Evaraly added, “I am happy with my results, but I don’t get smug or too sure of myself and forget to try harder with my next effort. I want to prove to neighbouring countries and the world that Cambodian students are not weak.”