Cambodia postpones annual exams over COVID-19

Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-09 16:56:11|Editor: xuxin
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PHNOM PENH, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has decided to postpone secondary and high school exams in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Khmer Times reported on Thursday.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron issued a notice on Wednesday, saying the ministry had decided to postpone the two national exams, which were previously scheduled for August.

"The ministry will determine and announce the new dates for the exams later," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Naron advised all students to conduct self-learning at home by using textbooks and e-learning programs like E-School Cambodia and Wiki School system, among other sources.

He said the national examination for the two levels may take place at the end of the year depending on the development of the virus situation.

Naron and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the dissemination of distance learning programs to aid in the prevention and control of the spread of the COVID-19, as well as ensure rural students get the same quality education as those from the urban areas.

Naron said since the closure of schools in mid-March, the ministry has set up online study programs for students from Grades 1 through 12 and has also cooperated with some companies to increase accessibility to the learning platforms.

However, since the learning programs are only accessible online, most students living in the rural areas and do not own smartphones and computers or have access to the internet cannot participate in the sessions.

Therefore, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has cooperated with the Information Ministry to organize educational TV programs to increase access to education, he said.

These programs are set to air in mid-April.

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