THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has requested that the Phnom Penh Municipality provide armed forces to maintain order for a two-day secondary school examination that will take place starting September 19 at 33 examination centres around Phnom Penh.

Oum Heung, director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports, explained that the use of security can help prevent cheating that has previously occurred during testing.

Oum Heung noted that people throwing photocopies from nearby shops into the testing rooms can "interrupt the candidates".
He asked for the deployment of 15 to 20 police to keep order during the two days of testing.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Choup Khon agreed, saying that "it is necessary to keep social order", adding that "the photocopy shops nearby the schools can cause anarchy, and authorities will close down all shops near the school until the examination is ended."

No bribes please
The Ministry of Education has also issued a news release asking parents of secondary school students not to give bribe money to their children to pass on to their teachers.

Chey Chap, undersecretary of state at the ministry, said education officials want parents to encourage their children to study rather than pass their exams by bribery.

Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, says he does not believe that the government has the capacity to stop exam-related corruption.
Bribes are frequently given to teachers for test answers or passing marks.

THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has requested that the Phnom Penh Municipality provide armed forces to maintain order for a two-day secondary school examination that will take place starting September 19 at 33 examination centres around Phnom Penh.

Oum Heung, director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sports, explained that the use of security can help prevent cheating that has previously occurred during testing.

Oum Heung noted that people throwing photocopies from nearby shops into the testing rooms can "interrupt the candidates".
He asked for the deployment of 15 to 20 police to keep order during the two days of testing.

Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Choup Khon agreed, saying that "it is necessary to keep social order", adding that "the photocopy shops nearby the schools can cause anarchy, and authorities will close down all shops near the school until the examination is ended."

No bribes please
The Ministry of Education has also issued a news release asking parents of secondary school students not to give bribe money to their children to pass on to their teachers.

Chey Chap, undersecretary of state at the ministry, said education officials want parents to encourage their children to study rather than pass their exams by bribery.

Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, says he does not believe that the government has the capacity to stop exam-related corruption.
Bribes are frequently given to teachers for test answers or passing marks.

GOVERNMENT officials expressed renewed hope for a resolution of border disputes with Thailand following an announcement Thursday by the newly elected Thai prime minister that the two sides would resume negotiations.

"We welcome this good news, and it signals a potential end to the conflict," said Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers. "It is good that Thailand is ready to talk."

Somchai Wongsawat, who was named Thai prime minister earlier this week, said he looked forward to more peaceful relations between the two countries.

"I'm ready to talk with Prime Minister Hun Sen," he told reporters at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Somchai added he expected Thai and Cambodian delegates to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next week.

"If the Thai government really intends to negotiate ... we will try our best to solve our problems," said Nuth Sa An, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior. "But I am concerned because they are always under pressure by the opposition party," he said.

Koy Koung, undersecretary of state for Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said he was not aware of any arrangements for negotiations to continue.

GOVERNMENT officials expressed renewed hope for a resolution of border disputes with Thailand following an announcement Thursday by the newly elected Thai prime minister that the two sides would resume negotiations.

"We welcome this good news, and it signals a potential end to the conflict," said Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of Ministers. "It is good that Thailand is ready to talk."

Somchai Wongsawat, who was named Thai prime minister earlier this week, said he looked forward to more peaceful relations between the two countries.

"I'm ready to talk with Prime Minister Hun Sen," he told reporters at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Somchai added he expected Thai and Cambodian delegates to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next week.

"If the Thai government really intends to negotiate ... we will try our best to solve our problems," said Nuth Sa An, secretary of state at the Ministry of Interior. "But I am concerned because they are always under pressure by the opposition party," he said.

Koy Koung, undersecretary of state for Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said he was not aware of any arrangements for negotiations to continue.