PHNOM PENH – Prey Veng province has come top of the outstanding student list in an annual exam, followed by Phnom Penh, Battambang and Kampong Chhnang.

The 28th contest for grade 9 and 12 students on May 13 in Phnom Penh saw 240 candidates from 25 capital/provinces being tested on Khmer literature, math and physics. 

Thirty students, 15 each for the two grades, were chosen, representing 13 capital/provinces. 

Prey Veng had six students on the list with two gold medals for grade 9 (Khmer literature and physics) and a gold medal for grade 12 (physics). The province also won a silver for grade 12 math, a bronze for grade 9 Khmer literature and a fourth rank in grade 12 math.

Prey Phnov High School in Prey Veng students won a gold and bronze for grade 9 Khmer literature. Principal Chhay Pengchhan said it was the third time the school had won a gold medal in the exam.

It was the result of the efforts of students, teachers, parents, high school management and the community.

“I'm so happy I am speechless. The result is priceless. It makes me really proud as a school manager,” he said.

It was also a source of pride for the province to have the most outstanding students out of the 25 capital/provinces.

“As a school from the countryside, we are really happy because the resources in the province are not as abundant as in the city. But because of the efforts, we all made this great result,” he said.

Phnom Penh had five students, followed by Battambang and Kampong Chhang (3 students), Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Pursat and Kandal (2) and Mondulkiri, Banteay Meanchey, Takeo, Tboung Khmum and Svay Rieng (1).  

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron said that all outstanding students would be intellectual resources for the future of Cambodia.

“Our country is in need of human capital to develop the country, especially in line with the advances of technology, 4.0 industrial revolution and the digital economy, which is focusing on artificial intelligence,” he said at the medal presentation ceremony.

He reminded all outstanding students to prepare themselves for the upcoming national grade 9 and 12 exams.

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.