Social development
Arsenic in well water poisoning the most vulnerable
Villagers in Preak Russey have learned that red means arsenic. ...
Jonathan Cox
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/15002//
Grade 12 exam asks students to explain the ‘culture of dialogue’
In the country’s current political climate, the term “culture of dialogue” is inescapable, whether because it is being used to resolve the issues of the day or allegedly being violated by the ruling or opposition party. ...
Janelle Retka and Aun Chhengpor
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/grade-12-exam-asks-students-to-explain-the-culture-of-dialogue-92667/
Gov’t warns of lawsuit over new illegal logging report
Environment and agriculture ministry officials Wednesday warned the authors of a new report accusing the government of colluding with timber magnate Try Pheap to illegally log the protected forests of northeastern Cambodia that they could be sued unless they made changes to the text. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-warns-of-lawsuit-over-new-illegal-logging-report-92665/
Private universities fear new vocational schools
Private universities in the Kingdom will have more competition as the Education Ministry laid out plans yesterday to open more vocational schools to deal with the unprecedented number of graduating high school students. ...
Va Sonyka
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14998/private-universities-fear-new-vocational-schools/
Tighter security on exams, but critics say teachers need paid more
A major exam for students this year included tighter security in order to prevent widespread cheating, but critics say more needs to be done to improve Cambodia’s education system. ...
Socheata Hean
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/tighter-security-on-exams-but-critics-say-teachers-need-paid-more/2933104.html
New global development agenda lacks accountability, activists say
A new global plan for sustainable development was adopted at the United Nations in New York earlier this month, but questions are already being raised over whether goals intended to help raise people in countries like Cambodia out of poverty will be effective. ...
Cambodia’s 'no cheating in exams' policy is working
Cambodia’s education minister says this year’s effort to prevent final-year students from cheating on their exams worked well, and he is confident results will be better than they were for the class of 2014. Many pupils will be hoping the same, given that 60 percent ...
Robert Carmichael
http://www.voanews.com/content/education-minister-says-cambodia-no-cheatig-in-exams-policy-is-working/2932876.html
Hun Sen admires education reforms
Prime Minister Hun Sen admired the ministry of education for doing good job at education reforming during the national exam in the last two years. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/hun-sen-admires-education-reforms-8891
Repeat test takers learn to manage expectations
Nam Meng Ang, 18, had little confidence in his ability to pass the grade 12 national exam this year—which determines which students get to enter university—having failed last year’s test, and the retake offered several weeks later. ...
Aun Chhengpor and Janelle Retka
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/repeat-test-takers-learn-to-manage-expectations-92536/
State of the art high school to serve former scavengers
The Education Ministry on Tuesday oversaw the groundbreaking of a $4 million high school that will be built on land that was once the municipal dump in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. ...
Matt Blomberg
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/state-of-the-art-high-school-to-serve-former-scavengers-92538/
After arrests, environment NGO defends tactics
When Sam Samnang’s son decided to join the ranks of environmental NGO Mother Nature, she knew he was in for trouble. ...
Aun Pheap and Chris Mueller
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/after-arrests-environment-ngo-defends-tactics-92525/
Tech designer hopes to create better data system for hospitals
Programmer Kong Divin recently returned from a trip to the US, where he won second place in a Microsoft Office context in Texas. He had entered the same competition last year, but did not win any prizes, though it gave him the drive to return. ...
Socheata Hean
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/tech-designer-hopes-to-create-better-data-system-for-hospitals/2930672.html
Bloggers forced to tread lightly
Cambodia’s young internet users are thinking twice before discussing politics online, say prominent bloggers, after the third case of government punitive action sparked by Facebook comments within a month.On Saturday, student Kong Raiya, 25, was charged over a Facebook post linked to him for comments ...
Shaun Turton and Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bloggers-forced-tread-lightly
Massage shop front for prostitution: prosecutor
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday heard the case of a Sen Sok district massage parlour owner accused of operating his business as a front for prostitution yesterday. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/massage-shop-front-prostitution-prosecutor
Rector says student was warned against activism
After a Khemerak University student was jailed in Phnom Penh on Saturday over a social media post calling for a “color revolution” in Cambodia, the school’s director Monday claimed that politics had “poisoned” students at his institution. ...
Aun Pheap and Anthony Jensen
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/rector-says-student-was-warned-against-activism-92373/
Exam a test of nerves
As the grade 12 national exam kicked off yesterday, the Ministry of Education said early indicators suggested a marked improvement on last year’s dismal results, though incidents of students caught cheating and others buckling under the pressure of the high-stakes test remained.The two-day exam began ...
Taing Vida and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/exam-test-nerves
Activists launch smartphone apps to protect women
Three free smartphone applications designed by Cambodian women to help reduce gender-based violence in the country were launched by The Asia Foundation on Monday. ...
Janelle Retka
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/activists-launch-smartphone-apps-to-protect-women-92398/
Gov’t and NGOs join to settle land dispute
Environment Minister Say Sam Al and a group of NGOs on Monday agreed to cooperate to resolve a years long dispute between hundreds of families in Koh Kong province and a Chinese company they accuse of stealing their land. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-and-ngos-join-to-settle-land-dispute-92392/
Mother nature continues court rally
The protest for the release of three activists from the environmental NGO Mother Nature entered its sixth day yesterday, with another rally in front of Koh Kong provincial court – where some members of the youthful NGO have been camping out. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14872/mother-nature-continues-court-rally/
Student arrested after posting about 'revolution'
An anti-government activist has been imprisoned over a social media post in which he called for people in Cambodia to join him in a “colour revolution”, though critics of the arrest say he enjoys no political influence. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/student-arrested-after-posting-about-revolution
Test takers say their prayers
On the eve of the grade 12 national exam students across Phnom Penh put down their revision notes and flocked to local pagodas and shrines yesterday, praying that they will pass the high-stakes test – and that the proctors will let them cheat.With testing starting ...
Taing Vida and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/test-takers-say-their-prayers
Prayers, blessings replace cheat sheets
Prayers, blessings and visits to shrines have replaced cheat notes in this year’s Grade 12 exam. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/14825/prayers--blessings-replace-cheat-sheets/
Villagers accuse firm of taking some $60,000
Over 100 members of the Prov ethnic community in Ratanakkiri province have filed a complaint with a local rights group claiming to have been defrauded for tens of thousands of dollars by a broker for an international investment firm. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-accuse-firm-taking-some-60000
Groups urge UN to address situation in Cambodia
A group of 12 international and local human rights organizations sent a letter to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday urging it to support a resolution addressing “the deteriorating human rights situation in Cambodia.” ...
Colin Meyn
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/groups-urge-un-to-address-situation-in-cambodia-92325/