The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has approved higher education entrance examinations and online graduate exams while the date for the grade 12 exam has yet to be set.

Minister Hang Chuon Naron made the announcement in a letter dated June 8 to the rectors and directors of higher educational institutions across the Kingdom.

“To ensure that teaching and learning continue to have quality and are sustainable amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry will allow students to take the entrance and graduation exams online. Each institution must submit a proposal for the ministry to review and assign proctors,” the letter said.

As schools throughout the country remain closed due to the pandemic, the minister said distance learning must continue to be conducted in an interactive way between lecturers and students.

He said it is important to “establish a clear management structure to ensure that e-learning and distance learning, as well as student evaluations, take place with good quality”.

Ministry spokesperson Ros Soveacha told The Post on Wednesday that the online entrance exam and distance learning will continue until further notice.

“The purpose of distance learning is to continue education while [the ministry] joins with the government to prevent Covid-19.

“For now, all students should continue their online learning and focus on implementing health measures,” he said.

Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association president Ouk Chhayavy said online learning and exams are not as good as direct interactions and can lead to cheating.

“Sometimes, students don’t do the exam themselves but have someone else do it for them instead. This is what we have seen in real exams before the pandemic. So for online examination, it would be much easier for students to have someone do it for them,” she said.

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