Cambodia's Education Ministry Provides Aid and Exam Access for Displaced Students

Phnom Penh — In response to the unrest near its northern border, the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is providing a vital financial and logistical boost to high school students whose exam plans were disrupted by the recent clashes.

At a press briefing held on August 22, Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron announced that the government will distribute over $60,000 to assist more than 3,600 Grade 12 exam candidates in the border provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanche (ODC).

• In Preah Vihear, 1,913 students will receive 50,000 riel each, about $12.50. The support package also includes six packs of instant noodles per student, along with arranged accommodation
• In Oddar Meanchey, 1,772 students are to receive 100,000 riel each, roughly $25, and will be relocated to Puok district in Siem Reap province due to damage in their home region. There, four primary schools have been converted into dormitories to house them. Provincial authorities are coordinating both transportation and housing

This initiative also comes with a broader flexibility: students from any province affected by the conflict are now allowed to sit for their high school diploma exams in other safe regions (Asia News Network).

Widespread Impact & Exam Administration

The fighting led to the closure of 605 schools, affecting approximately 15,000 students and more than 6,000 teachers. As of now, 94 schools remain closed: 67 in Preah Vihear and 21 in Oddar Meanchey.

Despite this, the Ministry plans to continue with exams in Preah Vihear as scheduled, given that exam centers are located about 100 km from the border. In contrast, Oddar Meanchey students will be moved to make sure they can safely sit for their exams.

Nationwide, there are about 146,000 registered candidates for this year’s high school exams, including over 80,000 female students and 38 candidates with disabilities (15 visually impaired, 23 deaf and/or mute).

To uphold the integrity of the exam process, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is ramping up oversight. A total of 4,100 observers and volunteers will be deployed across 241 exam centers. On Friday, the ACU held training for 400 officials, reinforcing their responsibilities under the legal framework. This marks the 12th consecutive year the ACU has managed national exam monitoring in support of the government’s anti-corruption and education reform goal (Asia News Network, ODC).