Cambodia will not abolish the Bac II examinations because they are necessary to raise the standard of education, Prime Minister Hun Manet said.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of a new school building in Kampong Speu province, Mr Hun Manet said the Bac II exams will remain in place as a means to assess and strengthen student performance.
He noted that while some advanced countries, such as the United States, do not have a Bac II equivalent, Cambodia’s exams—including monthly tests, semester exams, and junior and senior high school exams—are essential tools for evaluating students’ academic progress.
His remarks came in response to suggestions that Cambodia should eliminate the Bac II exams. He made it clear that such a step would only be considered if the education system could guarantee quality learning outcomes from primary to secondary school.
At the event, he asked the attending teachers and parents whether they preferred to cancel or continue the Bac II exams. The majority voiced support for its continuation.
“We have no plans to eliminate the Bac II exam,” Mr Hun Manet stated. “This exam is a tool to evaluate students’ abilities and motivate them to study harder. At the same time, we must improve the quality of education from the ground up.”
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport began reforming the Bac II exams in 2014 to eliminate cheating, peer sharing, and the use of mobile phones in exam rooms.
At the start of last year’s exams, Minister of Education Hang Chuon Naron said the reform has played a key role in driving improvements in the education sector.
In the last Bac II exams, 106,351 out of 130,00 students sitting for the exams passed, for a passing rate of 79%. Among these, 2,216 receive an A grade. This marked an improvement from 2023, when 98,460 students (72.89%) passed, and 1,673 received an A grade.
As Cambodia strives to spur economic growth, Mr Hun Manet said there is an urgent need to invest in human resources.
He added, “We will continue to build on our progress by expanding the number of teachers and increasing the number of secondary and high schools to reduce dropout rates. Those who don’t pursue general education can still develop skills for employment and may later return to complete their studies.”
To further accelerate educational development, the Prime Minister called on the Ministry of Education to expand digital integration in the curricula. This includes establishing more digital education centres, creating smart classrooms, enhancing internet access in schools, and improving teachers’ digital competencies to effectively integrate technology into teaching and learning.
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