Cambodia - University Scholarship 2008

According to Kosantepheap Daily newspaper, there are 3260 students who passed high school this year got university fee scholarship to study in various universities in Cambodia. There are 11 public universities and one private university that provided the scholarship.

The way to select the scholarship based on some criteria such as for best students (60%), girls priorities (15%), poor students (15%) and very far from the city (10%).

Around the way to use for this selection, the minister of Ministry of Education said, we use computer program to manage and we need some criteria required by each university. The selection is fair and everyone glad to the selection than selection by exam. "Exam can be good only for the best students but not poor students or girls priorities..."

Personally, I was in the first start of suck kind of this selection, I felt it was not fair enough but it's better than exam because most or sometimes, the best students couldn't pass well to the state university that's because of the corruption during/after the entrant university exam. But more better if the high school exam is fair enough (no corruption during exam) so that the selection criteria for best students would be fair.

Even thought, the Ministry of Education provides the training to various teachers to explain to the student about this selection but the information is not really spread enough to them, some students I met said: "They were not clear enough about the university selection". They said they didn't understand about the Major priority because some institutes need to apply the exam before give the scholarship so they though, the priority will not apply. Example if they put 1st priority to Medicine and 2nd is Engineer... and because of Engineer need to take exam, so they though, if they are good, would get Engineer scholarship before the Medicine scholarship because of Medicine doesn't have any exam.

But as students we must think and consider all our choices different way and should get more information before any decision. Ask to the teachers about the way we understand first.

Source: Kohsantepheap Daily Newspaper, Metrey's expression

19-09-2008 - "Birthdays need to be celebrated"

My friend:
"Birthdays need to be celebrated. I think it is more important to celebrate a birthday than a successful exam, a promotion, or a victory. Because to celebrate a birthday means to say to someone. <>. Enjoy all gifts that God will give you in life. HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

Thanks to all friends who care and keep me in their prayer!

Thanks to my love, ANE for this occasion,

Congratulations, you've won the lottery: Net scams hit Cambodia

Written by Eleanor Ainge Roy and Chrann Chamroeun

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Increasing numbers of Cambodians now have bank accounts, ATM cards and internet access; the internet scammers have been quick to see opportunities and move in for the kill KIM Sothea Thangdy, an actress and secretary, looks at the table somewhat abashed, while recounting a story she would rather not remember. "I want to be a rich woman. I like dreaming, and I like to use my imagination. So when I received this email informing me that I had won the lottery - my dreams had come true," she said. Vandy Rattana Kim Sothea Thangdy, who very nearly fell victim to an internet scam doing the rounds in Cambodia, says the experience has put her off using the internet. Kim Sothea Thangdy was very nearly the victim of a recent email lottery scam that is doing the rounds in Cambodia. She received an email two weeks ago claiming to be from The National Lottery Company, based in the UK. It informed her that she had won US$300,000. The 21-year-old says the email seemed very believable, so she replied with a series of questions, and though excited, kept the news of her supposed winnings a secret until she was sure. "I was thinking, ‘It is my time. It is my time for change'," she said. The National Lottery Company, which does not exist, replied at length to Thangdy's queries and seemed very happy she had contacted them. The scammers began an extended correspondence with her to organise payment. She decided to tell her family and friends the good news. But her suspicions were aroused when the company began requesting highly personal information, including details about her bank account. Kim Sothea Thangdy turned to a British friend for assistance, against the advice of other friends, who said he would try to steal her winnings. This friend said the emails were fraudulent and the supposed lottery was a scam either to steal her identity or empty her bank account. "When [he] told me it was false, all just a horrible trick, I felt hopeless. I didn't know there were people in this world that could do this. I still don't understand." I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT COULD DO THIS. Kim Sothea Thangdy is not alone. The lottery scam is one of the most common on the internet and plays easily on people's natural greed. Only one in 1,000 people need to take the bait in order for perpetrators to make a profit. The scam is said to have originated in Nigeria, where the official language is English and unemployment is high. Scams originating from Nigeria are famous and have been dubbed ‘419 scams', referring to a clause in Nigerian law that prohibits them. This and similar scams became popular in 2000, though they have been around in various forms since the early 1980s. Security organisations, including Interpol, the British Secret Service and the FBI, are now working together to combat them. A recent report from Australia last month revealed that $36 million each year is lost to Nigerian scammers-the majority of them internet-based. Nigerian Foreign Minister Sunday Olu Agbi expressed outrage at those who target his country for criticism, saying victims are as greedy as the perpetrators. "The bottom line is that anything that sounds too good to be true is too good to be true," he was quoted as saying last month. Nov Vitu, IT manager at the Khmer Web Group, said internet fraud is on the rise in Cambodia. "Cambodia has had a rise in credit card use since 2006, and this type of development is of interest to hackers looking for an opportunity to cheat people," he said. He said people must be careful about sharing their bank-card details and be aware of the kinds of scams that could target them. Ek Vandy, secretary of state for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, agreed. "It is very difficult for us to stop this sort of thing because the problem is global, the internet is global," he said. "We can only control communications in Cambodia." Kim Sothea Thangdy says she feels "far away" from the internet now. She did not tell the police about the scam because she thought they wouldn't care. "I would be embarrassed to tell them, and besides, they will only say that you are wasting their time." Source: Phnom Penh Post

The oil in Cambodia has low decrease if comparing to the world decrease

After reading the post of Kohsantepheap Newspaper about the oil cost in the world and Cambodia, the decrease of the petrol price is too low in Cambodia.

The world's recent high oil cost around 140$ and now is only 97$ per barrel.

In Cambodia, the decrease of the petrol is too slow and not much, it's just only 150 riels (0.0365 $) and the price I saw this morning for normal petrol is 5100 riels (1.243$), for super is 5200 riels (1.268$).

When the oil in the world cost around 140, the petrol price in Cambodia is 5600 riels (1.365 $ for normal petrol) and 5700 - 5750 riels (1.39$ for super).

How far different is it?

Top two students slam cheating

Written by Chhay Channyda

Friday, 05 September 2008

The only two grade-A students in Cambodia say that the government needs to do more to curb cheating and bribery to ensure that exam results really reflect students' abilities VANDY RATTANA Heng Kothai from Siem Reap province obtained 100 percent in his exams, as well as A’s in five subjects. Chhay Sopanhana was lucky to be born into a family that values learning, while Heng Kothai is a perfectionist. For both, hitting the books has paid off: they were the only students in Cambodia to receive perfect exam scores out of a field of 55,178 who passed their high school finals. Chhay Sopanhana, 17, from Hun Sen Sereypheap High School in Kandal province's Takhmao town, said she was delighted when she received news of her 99.99 percent exam result. "I did my best to receive this grade. It makes me happy and proud of myself and my whole family is also proud of me," she said. As the youngest daughter of a health official in Kandal province, Chhay Sopanhana is now on holiday and is preparing for university. "I am interested in studying medicine because my father is a doctor and my older sister is also approaching this field," she said, adding that she thought her outstanding grades might owe something to the fact she was "lucky to be born in a family that is encouraging me to pursue higher education". Despite obtaining the highest possible grades in all subjects at school, Chhay Sopanhana feels that her foreign-languages skills still need some work. "I stopped learning languages for one year because I was focusing on my school exams," she explained. "I need to learn more English and French to compete with other students when I enter university," she said, adding that English would be essential in the future were she to apply for overseas scholarships to pursue her education still further. Pech Lang, who was Chhay Sopanhana's math professor, told the Post that the A student had only used her own knowledge during the exam and did not cheat. "Sopanhana has been an outstanding student in Kandal province," she said. Heng Kothai, the only other student in the country to obtain grade-A marks, also cited a perceived weakness in foreign languages as a factor of concern. Despite admitting to a slight obsession with perfection, Heng Kothai says that what really got him his grades was his work ethic. He said he is confident this will stand him in good stead when he tackles improving his language skills. "My English is not as good as my general subjects at school, but if I study hard like I studied for my exam results, I will achieve success." The Siem Reap native received an overall exam score of 100 percent, and said he got an A in five subjects: maths, philosophy, biology, physics and chemistry. "I only got one C for English," he added ruefully. "I must study hard to improve my English results," he said, adding that he admires Phnom Penh students' access to finances and education. "I am not rich enough to pay for a part-time tutor," he said. Widespread cheating PHOTO SUPPLIED Kandal province’s Chhay Sopanhana says she will study medicine. The news of widespread bribery and cheating during the exams comes as no surprise to Heng Kothai. "Students are cheating all over the country," he said. "It is normal in Cambodia that students collect money for proctors. Government measures to crack down on such bad habits seem ineffective," he said. According to Heng Kothai, even noncheating students have to cough up cash for teachers. "It is a must to get all 25 students in the examination room to pay," he said. "I did not cheat so I did not pay, but proctors demanded all students to pay, so my friend spent money for me. Everyone knows I did not cheat." The student is now in Phnom Penh searching for an appropriate university to continue his education. "I want to pursue my degree in civil engineering [as] it is easy to find a good job in this field." Nhoek Sakun, deputy head of the Department of High Schools at the Siem Reap Provincial Education Department, said that he was happy to see a student in his province receive one of the only two perfect scores in the country. "The good result shows his true capacity: He is an outstanding student in Siem Reap," he said. However, Nhoek Sakun admitted that outstanding students with a sense of ethics were a rarity. "We cannot prevent all cheating. Cheating still exists." Chroeng Lim Sry, of the Ministry of Education, said he was pleased to see that the two students who received A's used only their knowledge to pass the exam. Source: Phnom Penh Post

[Picture of the month] The way to France of my sister,

Here are some pictures at Phnom Penh Air Port for my sister's leave to France for her study in Chemical Engineering.
My mom and my younger sister (Raksmey)

My whole family, the blue shirt is my younger sister who is now in Nancy, France
For studying her Master Degree

Me, my younger sister (Raksmey), my younger brother (Reaksa), my elder sister (Srey Touch)

My nephew (Sakal), my niece (Lida)

CAMBODIA - CCSC Scholarship and a concern on high school exam quality

CAMBODIA(CCSC) - After few days interview at Catholic Church Student Center (CCSC) for its scholarship provided for poor and challenge students after their succeed in high school exam this year 2008, we found a very big concern to their grade and their ability.

The interview went through with 52 students among 96 students from all the places in Cambodia who registered to CCSC for 2008-2009 scholarship, from Friday 05 - Sunday 07 September. The scholarship proceed with 3 exams of Maths, Khmer / General Culture and English; and afterward conducting with an interview with 6 members of scholarship selection committee.

Comparing to the result of the exam at CCSC and the results got from high school exam this year, there are so different. Some students who got a very good score in Maths, Physics etc. in grade C or D have failed to CCSC exam but differently some students who get grade E have passed the exam instead.

With the interview, they have told that during the exam many corruption happened, "we needed to give money to the teachers who in charge in the room in order to be possible to read documents or watch someone else in the class, if not, we couldn't possible even do our work". Some students agreed that they got good score because of they had read other documents during the exam and gave money to the teachers.

But during the CCSC exam, we have also some students in grade B and C that had a very good score and they said they were possible to get this grade or could be better than this grade they had, "Of course, we have also read documents during the exam but not all subjects. For science subjects, we have no way to read better than use our knowledge to do them. If the exam fairs enough we could get better score than this." Most of the students had failed or feared with Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Khmer liturature, they had spent so much money in private class to study those subjects during their studying in high school.

After finished all interviews, other 2 conducted meeting made by the committee in order to select the succeed students. We had now choose 8 boys and 11 girls from different places/churches in Cambodia.

The students this year came from Battambang, Kampong Thom, Pursat, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kampong Cham, Banteay Mean Chey and Prey Veng.

(Personal Feedback by Metrey, a selection committee member)

More students failing their exams (2008)

Written by Chhay Channyda

Monday, 01 September 2008

Despite rampant cheating, most students only manage the lowest possible passing score on their high school finals. Bribery allegations call into question whether grades reflect capacity FEWER students passed their high school exams this year compared with 2007, according to results released throughout the country Friday - despite widespread cheating. Some 70.7 percent of the 55,178 students who participated received passing marks, compared with 72.7 percent of students who passed last year. However, with allegations of widespread bribery in the classroom, many question whether the results reflect students' real capacity. VANDY RATTANA Students in Phnom Penh wait to get their results Friday. According to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports statistics signed by Ke Nay Leang, general director of education, Phnom Penh students had the highest pass rate in the country at 84.9 percent, while Stung Treng students had the lowest at just 39.6 percent. Only two students in the country succeeded in getting grade A, the highest mark. Some 432 students got grade B, 3,289 got grade C, 14,769 got grade D and 36,706 students got grade E, according to statistics. Chroeng Lim Sry, director of the Department of High Schools at Ministry of Education, told the Post Sunday that the lowest scores received this year were in the subject of Khmer literature. "While not many students received good scores for Khmer writing, they usually did OK in other subjects." Chroeng Lim Sry acknowledged that cheating presented a problem during this year's exams. "We had over 79,000 students taking exams but only about 10,000 proctors to supervise," he said. "We couldn't prevent cheating entirely, but we will punish those teachers who allowed for irregularities by suspending them from being proctors again." Cheating, bribery rampant Rong Chhun, president of Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said that the fact that the majority of students passed shows a lack of strict measures to curb bribery. "There were many irregularities during the exam period," he said. "The exam results sometimes do not reflect students' real capacity." Even though there is no concrete evidence of corruption, the fee for passing an exam can range anywhere from 7,000 riels in the provinces to 12,000 riels in Phnom Penh, Rong Chhun added. Chroeng Lim Sry said that while some students have paid bribes, he could guarantee that no formal cheat fees exist. He added that during exam day, two teachers were fired for taking money in exchange for test answers. Source: Phnom Penh Post

Exam cheats force review of teachers

Written by May Titthara

Thursday, 14 August 2008

Rampant cheating at high school exams this year has forced the government to investigate the widespread practice of students paying their teachers for test answers, education officials said Wednesday. "After the examination results are announced we will conduct a meeting with the chief of the education department and school directors around the country to find a way to stop teachers from taking money from their students and students from giving money to their teachers," said Chroeng Lim Sry, director of the high school department at the Ministry of Education. Two teachers were fired this year for taking money in exchange for test answers, but most students interviewed during this year's exams said it was almost expected that they would pay for better scores. Rong Chhun, head of the Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association, said that a large number of students would only pass their exams because they had cheated. "The Ministry of Education should not allow students to cheat during exams. If teachers' salaries are not increased and they continue to take money from the students to let them cheat, Cambodia will have no strong human resources to develop this country," Rong Chhun said. Sek Borisoth, director of the Anti-Corruption Program for Pact, agreed that widespread corruption in the examination room has interfered with the test scores and in the long-run is bound to lead to a lack of qualified graduates. "This will cause a serious problem in the society because students who have certificates will be unable to find jobs because the certificates will not be valued by employers," he said. "We want to increase teachers' wages to discourage them from taking bribes from the students in return for turning a blind eye to their cheating," Sek Borisoth said. "Some teachers...are forced to take money from their students because their wages are so low." Source: Phnom Penh Post

Khmer Dictionary on the web and PC

Hi,
I found today on Khmer dictionary, please see following link:

http://sealang.net/khmer/dictionary.htm
Web Translation - Khmer-English / English - Khmer Dictionary

All About Khmer Dictionary

Download Khmer Dictionary for PC

Can be more, will post here later.