The number of Cambodians who read regularly has increased significantly through the efforts of the Education Ministry, educational organizations and youth groups to promote reading habits. Proof of this could be seen in the strong attendance at the three-day Cambodia Book Fair, which organizers say drew approximately 25,000 bookworms to the National Library in Phnom Penh.  The fifth annual Cambodia Book Fair was held under the theme “Encourage reading and inspire writing.” 
 

But while progress has been made in encouraging reading, the number of Cambodian writers remains limited. Speaking to Youth Today while attending the first day of the fair, Education, Youth and Sport Minister Hang Chuon Naron admitted the small number of writers in Cambodia today poses a problem. The less-than-thriving writing sector, he explained, reflects the fact that until recently, demand has been low for a long time. 
 

“The number of writers is small because we have a small reading market,” Mr. Chuon Naron said.  The problem has a chicken-and-egg quality. To solve the shortage of writers, the minister said, the first step is to increase the number of readers, which motivates writers to produce more. Students from the primary to high school levels are the ministry’s primary targets in this regard. 

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32859/not-enough-writers-to-serve-growing-reading-population/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 08/12

Duuuh! Don't suppose the obvious solution has been figured out by the bureaucrats, viz., make English proficiency required and they'll never run out of reading material, and the odds of that material being factually correct improves exponentially.

5 hours ago, arrowsdawdle said:

Duuuh! Don't suppose the obvious solution has been figured out by the bureaucrats, viz., make English proficiency required and they'll never run out of reading material, and the odds of that material being factually correct improves exponentially.

What does the job pay? Sorry to sound crass. 

the reason cambodia has so few writers is the the intellectuals were the first slaughtered by the khmer rouge. it is not easy to regrow such a culture, rich as it once was.

 

 the poster who suggested they resort to english for their reading seems to have little understanding of concept of cultural identity.

maybe the Nation can transfer a large number of their journalists over to Cambodia.....that will help a lot