Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron has attributed the success of this year’s Grade 12 National Examination to the dedication of students, teachers and parents. Hean Rangsey
In a letter on Tuesday, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Chuon Naron attributed the success of this year’s Grade 12 National Examination to the dedication of students, teachers and parents.
“There are no words like ‘easy’ or ‘difficult’ to be found on examination papers. They are designed to measure students’ capacities using the Bloom Taxonomy method.
“Professors and senior education officials were consulted on its composition with utmost care to draw on lessons from the curriculum issued by the ministry.
“The aim of the examination was not to decide the fate of candidates. Instead, it was carefully crafted to measure their capacity and encourage them to work hard and be successful.
“The strong results were the consequence of participation, support and assistance from all stakeholders. Each party had a role in making the examination process go smoothly.
“The examination was organised fairly and transparently according to legal principles. The result was acceptable . . . and in line with the ministry’s motto: ‘You are knowledgeable, you pass’,” Naron said in the letter.
The nationwide results for the examinations were announced on Tuesday – 79,052 of 117,043 candidates or 68.62 per cent of students passed – an increase of 1.55 per cent compared to last year.
The ministry reported that 443 candidates were awarded As, 141 of whom sat for the examinations in Phnom Penh.
The minister noted in his letter that the system for tallying scores had been upgraded to a digital SQL Server after thousands of students complained that they received lower marks last year.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesman Ros Soveacha told The Post that the ministry aimed to prioritise education in sciences and technology to coordinate with the government’s Rectangular Strategy Phase IV.
“The ministry is working to conduct systematic reforms over the next five years to address the educational needs of people from all ages and levels to help connect them with the job market,” he said.
Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association president Ouk Chhayavy told The Post that she believed the quality of Cambodian education had improved considerably.
“But we must ask that if all youths pass the examinations when they enter the workforce how capable will they be? How many students are gifted with the skill of learning since childhood?
“Success depends on youths receiving knowledge and then putting it into practice. It’s knowledge that restored the nation and allowed us to gain genuine democracy,” Chhayavy said.
