US anticipates welcoming more Cambodian students
MINISTER of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron met with US ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy to discuss improving education cooperation, with the US expecting to welcome more and more Cambodians as students in the coming years.
During the November 17 meeting, Murphy shared his experiences of implementing various educational projects in Cambodia with the support of the US government, and also discussed the provision of Fulbright Scholarships, said an education ministry statement released the day after the meeting.
“We expect the provision of US government scholarships to encourage more young Cambodians to seize the opportunity to continue their studies in the US,” he said.
Chuon Naron thanked the US for its support for the Kingdom’s education sector, which has made significant contributions to the development of human resources, in line with the government’s vision for its seventh mandate.
“The Cambodian education sector is focusing on strengthening the quality of education. From early childhood education to career counselling programmes, study clubs to a curriculum which links to Buddhism in order to teach moral behaviour and ethics, we are enacting many reforms, in line with the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet,” he said.
He explained that the education ministry has established reform by promoting healthy education practices and strengthening school management to improve student learning outcomes, as well as ranking schools across the country.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said on November 19 that cooperation with the US in terms of human resource education is an excellent move, as the US is one of the most powerful nations and is continuing to grow. He noted that the current prime minister is himself a graduate of a US education.
“This is a partnership that has real value for our human resource development at a time when Cambodia is in need. We applaud the US for giving our young people
more opportunities to continue their studies in a developed country,” he added.
According to Peou, young Cambodians who study in the US receive high quality educations, especially in the fields of science, economics and democracy.
Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) president Ouk Chhayavy said the US providing opportunities for scholarships is a generous gift from a powerful country.
“We support the strengthening of cooperation between the education ministry and the US. I would request that those who get the opportunity to study there return to the Kingdom and use the knowledge they have acquired in a useful manner,” she added.