32 Students with Disabilities Take High School Exit Exam in Phnom Penh

A total of 32 students with visual and hearing impairments have applied to take the high school exit examination (Bak Doep) scheduled for August 10, 2026, in Phnom Penh. This group represents a portion of the nearly 30,000 candidates sitting for the exam in the capital. According to Mr. Hem Sinareth, Director of the Department of Education, Youth, and Sport of Phnom Penh, the total number of candidates in Phnom Penh this year is 29,631, divided among 36 examination centers and 1,193 rooms. Science streams have 13 centers, while social science streams have 23 centers. He specified that among the total candidates, 22 are hearing-impaired students (9 female), who will take the exam in the science stream at the Royal University of Law and Economics. Meanwhile, 10 visually impaired students (2 female) will take the exam in the social science stream at the Phnom Penh Thmey Primary School. In accordance with the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport's guidelines, visually and hearing-impaired candidates will be accommodated in separate rooms located at the rear of the examination centers. The center chief must assign two invigilators from a special education institute to oversee the examination for all subjects over the two-day period. For visually impaired candidates who write in Braille, the invigilators are instructed to read the exam questions aloud to the candidates and allow them additional time as specified, without disrupting the examination process in other rooms. Simultaneously, invigilators must provide sufficient examination papers according to the candidates' actual needs, as visually impaired students generally use more sheets. Upon completion of the examination, the center chief must collect the answer sheets of visually and hearing-impaired candidates into separate envelopes. These envelopes should be clearly labeled with the subject name, room number, center name, and the title 'Answer Sheets of Visually and Hearing-Impaired Candidates,' and sealed properly. The answer sheets of visually impaired candidates are not to be placed in the same box as those of general candidates but kept separately and reported to the receiving party upon dispatch to the collection center. The Ministry also clarified that visually and hearing-impaired candidates will be evaluated by the same standards as other candidates, with a passing score of 237 out of a total of 500 points. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport has directed all examination centers to pay close attention to candidates with disabilities, without discrimination, whether they have visual, hearing, limb, or other impairments. Furthermore, they will receive special facilitation and care throughout the examination process and during the marking of papers.