奇速英语

柬埔寨教育改革

Cambodia’s Grade 12 students took their final test in August 2014. Only 26% of them passed. The new Minister of Education had ordered extra security around the testing places.

Students could not bring cell phones or calculators into the rooms. Teachers did not have the chance to tell students the answers to the exam questions. The government employed monitors to watch the test-takers carefully. Why was last year different from earlier years?

Hang Chuon Naron entered office as Education Minister in 2014. He wants to end corruption in Cambodia’s schools. He thinks that education reform is necessary for Cambodia’s economic development.

“So the most important factor is that there is a skills mismatch in Cambodia. And it becomes an obstacle to economic development, to growth, to attract foreign direct investment. So we have investors coming in; they look for a skilled labor force - we don’t have enough. But at the supply side we have many graduates that cannot find jobs. And this is a problem that many countries are facing - the skills mismatch.”

Hang Chuon Naron, Cambodia's Minster of Education

Students taking the test in 2015 know they will have to study hard in order to do well on the test. Final year student Rattana says he and his classmates know they will not be able to cheat on their exams. To pass secondary school and enter university, they will have to change their behavior, he says.

New training will help educators better teach critical thinking and problem solving skills. Cambodia’s education reforms need support from everyone. Students, parents, government, and businesses will all need to help improve schools. Both the tests and the economy will show the results.