Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - High school exams go smoothly as students settle in for three weeks of waiting

High school exams go smoothly as students settle in for three weeks of waiting

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
An invigilator looks over Grade 12 exam candidates as they sit for the first day of their December 5-6 tests at Preah Sisowath High School in the capital. Hong Menea

High school exams go smoothly as students settle in for three weeks of waiting

The two-day high school exams that took place over December 5-6 went smoothly, safely and with good order and behaviour by the candidates.

Ros Soveacha, spokesman for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, said on December 6 that this year’s high school exams proceeded as planned with no serious issues and that this factor contributed to increased credibility for Cambodia's testing regimen.

“Overall, all exam centres reported that things went well and it was quiet and orderly. Exam candidates and staff all followed our four principles – law, justice, transparency and acceptable and trustworthy outcomes,” he said.

He continued that the candidates were patient and had confidence in taking the exams. No issues with obedience to traffic laws were reported though a few accidents took place.

A small number of candidates had experienced mild health problems in the process of taking their exams and will have to retest at a later date, but this is to be expected when there are over 100,000 people involved, he noted.

The ministry said specifically that 70 candidates had experienced health problems and four sustained mild injuries in traffic road accidents, while four others were suspected of having Covid-19. Three candidates could not sit for the exams due to health problems and 14 invigilators had experienced health problems.

“Some candidates experienced dizziness or vomiting and they received first aid from the standby medics at the exam centres so that they could return to complete their exams,” Soveacha said, adding that such cases are often due to nervousness rather than illness.

According to a December 5 press release, there were a total of 128,135 candidates at 221 exam centres with 5,174 test rooms. A total 2,400 candidates were absent from the exams.

The press release read that 17,240 invigilators, 2,756 trainee teachers, staff from the Anti-Corruption unit (ACU) and 2,700 observers had joined the education ministry in conducting the exams.

“The invigilators, the ACU, the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), medics and nurses, members of the armed forces and local authorities followed our guidelines mindfully and responsibly,” the ministry said.

Though it rained in some provinces, the weather had no affect on the process of the exams and the candidates abided by the exam rules well, with just one candidate disqualified for misbehaviour.

The exams wrapped up at 4:30pm on December 6. The answer sheets will be taken to Phnom Penh and teachers recruited for temporary assignment will mark them.

“Overall, it is in line with our main principle: Only those who are capable pass the exam," the ministry emphasised.

The outcome of the exams will be announced for Phnom Penh and neighbouring Kandal province on the afternoon of December 27 and then for the rest of the country on December 28.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Tina rebuffs ‘false claims’ over falling paddy price

    Agriculture minister Dith Tina has shed light on the trade of paddy rice in Battambang – Cambodia’s leading rice-producing province – in a bid to curb what he dubs a “social media fact distortion campaign” to destabilise the market. While acknowledging that the prices of paddy

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm