Cambodian PM Expresses Deep Concern Over Declining Education Quality, Warns Against 'Easy Degrees' for Competition

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has expressed his deepest concerns regarding the decline in the quality of education, particularly at the tertiary level. The Prime Minister has sounded a strong warning against educational institutions that lower their standards for the sake of competition, leading to the easy issuance of degrees. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Royal University of Law and Economics, the Prime Minister stated, "Do not lower the quality for the sake of competition. It is a problem if one can get a degree without attending classes, just to compete." He encouraged all educational institutions, both public and private, from primary to higher education levels, to continue to focus on and strengthen the quality of education and not to compromise it. Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that such actions would negatively impact the quality and reputation of Cambodia's education sector. He further highlighted that the government continues to give high priority to the education sector under the "Pentagonal Strategy," which serves as the long-term national socio-economic development strategy, by continuing to prioritize human capital development. He added that the government is actively enhancing the quality of education, vocational training, and skills development, encompassing both hard and soft skills. This includes a focus on improving the quality of teachers and school principals, along with teaching methodologies, curricula, and equipment that align with the vision for 21st-century education.