With more than 117,000 candidates sitting this year’s Grade 12 examinations on Monday and Tuesday, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has called on everyone involved to adhere to the rules.

Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha told The Post on Sunday that crib sheets, mobile phones and all electronic devices were banned and anyone breaking the rules would be automatically excluded.

“If candidates allow other people to sit the examination on their behalf, they will be failed, with the person impersonating the candidate punished more severely than the candidate themselves.

“He or she will face legal charges related to impersonation in order to qualify for an examination,” he said.

Soveacha said the ministry would monitor the examinations according to four principles – the law, justice, transparency and acceptable results – with cooperation from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and the ministries of Interior, Tourism, and Health.

“Buddhist monks will provide accommodation for candidates in pagodas, and provincial governors and grassroots assistants are also helping to facilitate accommodation and transport,” he said.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron sent a message to the candidates on Facebook on Thursday: “Good luck. Those who are knowledgeable will pass the examination.

“Therefore, please do not bring in crib sheets, mobile phones or electronic devices. Follow the rules, maintain order during the examination and preserve your honour and that of our education system,” he said.

Srey Chan Ek, a student at Kampong Chhnang’s Hun Sen Boribo High School, told The Post on Sunday: “We took the previous Grade 12 examination to test our ability. Like in maths – whether we can complete it in an hour and a half.

“I’ve been practising every day and I think I’ll be fine. No problem for me with tomorrow’s examination. Some people say they’re nervous but I’m not – it’s not difficult.”

Chan Ek said he supported the ministry’s rules. “If we could bring answer sheets or other papers into the examination centre, we wouldn’t know what we are capable of and our education would not be successful in the future either,” he said.

The ACU said in June that it would not be sending observers to monitor the examinations despite having done so for the past five years. It recommended that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport deploy more invigilators throughout the country.

It said it would continue to collaborate with the ministry to address any allegations of corruption.

It is expected that 117,024 candidates, including 60,421 girls, will sit the examinations this year in 4,725 examination rooms at 202 locations.