Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORT
A ministry of Education, Youth and Sport committee began the review of complaints on Saturday that were filed by disappointed students who sat for last month’s Grade 12 National Examinations.
More than 100 students submitted their petitions individually at a protest organised in front of the ministry last Wednesday. Some of the students protested because they failed the examinations, while others were not satisfied with their results.
Ministry spokesperson Ros Soveacha told The Post on Sunday that the newly formed committee would announce its findings through its Facebook page in the coming days.
“Our team is working on this matter and will respond to the complainants soon. The committee is even working through Sunday,” Soveacha said.
Minister Chuon Naron said last Friday that his office had decided to look into the complaints to ensure officials had implemented the principles of clarity, justice, and transparency during the examination process.
Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association president Ouk Chhayavy on Sunday encouraged the ministry to accept that there was turmoil among students, saying they would not have protested unless they had experienced injustice.
“Students protested the examination results in the last two consecutive years. If the examinations were accurate and transparent, then students would not protest. Therefore, a high degree of attention should be placed on their complaints to ensure they are satisfied,” Chhayvay said.
Last year, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport issued an apology for a computer glitch which resulted in thousands of students receiving lower marks.
Examination results were released last Monday, one day ahead of schedule.
More than 79,000 or about 68 per cent of Grade 12 students passed the examinations this year – an increase of more than one per cent from 2018. Some 443 students were awarded As, 35 more than last year.
On Sunday, Naron rewarded outstanding students from three high schools in Kampong Cham province’s Kang Meas district with motorbikes and other gifts in recognition of their hard work.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen will meet every student who received an A on October 7. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport said on its Facebook page last week that he would present each of them with an iPad.
