Poll shows wide support for heavily monitored exams

[geovalin]

Laignee Barron

Most Cambodians support the Ministry of Education's crusade to end corruption on the grade 12 national exam, results from a "snap poll" by the Asia Foundation showed yesterday.

The survey polled 500 respondents, including 100 current high school students, and 96 per cent were overwhelmingly in favor of the increased monitoring at this year's exam.

The measures taken to crack down on rampant cheating formerly typical of the high-stakes test included barring smartphones, patting down entrants at the testing site entrances and recruiting independent monitors to deter cheaters by watching through the windows.

But the enhanced anti-cheating tactics resulted in a more than 74 per cent failure rate, necessitating a second testing opportunity, which students who wish to get their diplomas and move on to higher education will undertake Monday and Tuesday.

Poll respondents also said that the education system is in need of further overhaul. Increasing teachers' salaries and starting reforms at the primary school level were the most strongly supported priorities.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/poll-shows-wide-support-heavily-monitored-exams