‘Hungry’ Teachers Need Better Pay, Educator Says

Say Mony, VOA Khmer

17 October 2013

Cambodian school children sit under the shade of tree as they listen to teacher at Trapaing Loeuk primary school in Kampong Speu province.

PHNOM PENH - An increase in teacher salaries and the elimination of administrative corruption are key reforms needed to ensure improved education and competitiveness for Cambodian youths, an educator says. “Some teachers say that with hungry stomaches, they cannot teach,” Pa Chanroeun, a PhD candidate at Charles Stuart University in Australia, told “Hello VOA” on Monday. “So there must be decent salaries for educational personnel, especially teachers.”

Cambodia’s teachers earn about $100 per month, leading many to resort to low-level bribe-taking to make ends meet. The government has said it cannot afford higher wages for more than 112,000 education personnel nationwide.

Youth Still Lack Political Engagement, Advocate Says

Say Mony, VOA Khmer

17 May 2013

It is especially important that youth get more engaged in the political process as the country heads toward national elections in July, Cheang Sokha, executive director of the Youth Resource Development Program, told “Hello VOA” on Monday.

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian youth need to be politically active and engaged if they want to see their standards of living improved in the new mandate of government, a youth advocate says. It is especially important that youth get more engaged in the political process as the country heads toward national elections in July, Cheang Sokha, executive director of the Youth Resource Development Program, told “Hello VOA” on Monday.

More Youth Involved in Environmental Protection: Activist

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Friday, 18 May 2012 

A villager is seen here tying timber to his motorcycle for trading with the logging  company as two UN investigator are looking around in the compound of  the logging company, April 27, 2012.

Forestry advocates see more youth engaging in environmental protection, especially in forest communities where illegal logging is rampant. “Previously, only elder people from the ages of 30, 40 or 50 up stood up to protect their forests, but recently more younger people have been participating in the anti-illegal logging movement,” Chhim Savuth, a community empowerment officer of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, told “Hello VOA” on Monday.

Young Disregarded Where Politics Count: Advocate

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Thursday, 12 April 2012 

About half of Cambodia’s population of 14 million is aged between 15 and 30.

Cambodia’s youth are often regarded as useful to politicians, but seldom are they given the chance to vie for elections such as those scheduled for this year and next. This has made them “political slaves,” Yong Kim Eng, president of the People’s Center for Development and Peace, told “Hello VOA” on Monday. “They are just supporters, not decision-makers who can determine their own fates.”

Ban Limits Research Potential for Future: Academic

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Friday, 16 March 2012

Sok Touch, rector of Khemarak University, on “Hello VOA” Monday.

The Royal University of Law and Economics has issued a ban on more than a dozen research topics for students, but the head of a local institution says this will only hurt the country’s development. The ban bars research on topics like drug abuse, land disputes, labor disputes and the stock market, as well as the Cambodian Red Cross, which is led by Bun Rany, the wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodian Youth Ill-Equipped for Asean Integration: Advocates

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Saturday, 14 January 2012 

Him Sothearoth, (far left) is a 4th year student of International Studies at Royal University of Phnom Penh with Cheang Sokha, executive director of Youth  Resource Development Program, on "Hello VOA" program on Monday.

Cambodian youth need better knowledge and skills to compete within the Asean marketplace, as the region becomes more closely integrated, youth advocates say. “It is difficult for individual young people, especially those in the countryside, to know what the job market demands, because their understanding of Asean is still limited,” Cheang Sokha, executive director of the Youth Resource Development Program, told “Hello VOA” Monday.

Poor Market, Perceived Danger Keep Youth Out of Journalism: Mentor

Say Mony, VOA Khmer

Friday,14 October 2011

Cambodian youth are not so keen on journalism careers, believing the job to be dangerous and underpaid, a journalism mentor says.

“Some young graduates still fear that they might be in danger, or face legal consequences, if they work as journalists,” said Tieng Sopheak Vichea, director of the Cambodia Communication Institute, which offers the country’s only four-year journalism program.

Since the program’s inception, 10 years ago, only about 20 of its 120 graduates have gone on to pursue work as actual journalists, Tieng Sopheak Vichea said, as a guest on “Hello VOA” Monday.

Not Enough Cambodians Pitching In for Development: Volunteers

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Thursday, 15 September 2011

Diep Sovannaroth, left, a program assistant for UN Volunteers, and Chhuon Thavrith,  right, a former volunteer at UN Volunteers who now works for UNDP, were our guests on 'Hello VOA' on Monday.

If more Cambodians do not start pitching in and volunteering, the country risks missing key development goals in coming years, a youth advocate said Monday. Cambodia is trying to meet a series of UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015, but it is lagging behind in key sectors. And while there are a number of foreign volunteers working in the country, there is not enough local help, Diep Sovannaroth, a program assistant for UN Volunteers, told “Hello VOA.”

Lack of Research Among Academics a ‘Problem’: Lecturer

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Saturday, 27 August 2011 

Peou Chivoin, a lecturer of media theory and research at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Cambodia’s higher education would do well to include more research and critical thinking demands on its professors, a university lecturer said Thursday. “When [academics] do research, it is like they are exercising and it requires them to think critically, thus boosting the overall quality of their abilities and work,” said Peou Chivoin, a lecturer of media theory and research at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Engineers Ready, But Nowhere To Go

Say Mony, VOA Khmer
Thursday, 10 August 2011 

Two Cambodian boys fish on an empty drainage pipe at the natural irrigation  canal in Kompong Speu province.

A growing group of young engineers say they are ready for the government to make use of their skills but are facing limited job prospects. “The use of the skills acquired by graduate engineers in the labor market is still limited,” said Chann Rithy, vice president of Techno Charity, a group of engineers, as a guest Monday on “Hello VOA.”

Schools Not Making Entrepreneurs: Business Leader

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Friday, 13 May 2011

Sila Chy Thmor , national president for the 2011 of Junior Chamber International Cambodia.

A young business leader says Cambodian universities must do better to develop young entrepreneurs, rather than teaching students to become good employees. “In schools, they teach young people how to find jobs, but why don't they teach them how to run their own businesses?” said Chy Sila, president of the Junior Chamber International Cambodia, as a guest on “Hello VOA” Monday.

Opportunity, Possibility for Young Leaders Limited in Cambodia: Youth Leader

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Hou Sidany, acting coordinator of Youth Council of Cambodia, left, Chhem Pe, middle, a 2009 champion of Youth Leadership Challenge, a local reality TV show. “

It is not the case that young people in Cambodia do not want to participate in social activities, but the problem is that the possibility and opportunity for their participation is still not widespread, according to a young leadership champion. “Youth's access to information seems limited,” said Chhem Pe, a 2009 champion of Youth Leadership Challenge, a local reality TV show.

Youth Can 'Bridge Gap' for Legacy of Khmer Rouge

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Wednesday, 12 January 2011

Long Khet, executive director of Youth for Peace, on 'Hello VOA' on Monday.

Youth can play a vital role in bringing back some of the trust that was lost in the Khmer Rouge and intervening war years, an youth leader said Monday. “In our community, we've lost our values, solidarity and trust among each other, especially with the Khmer Rouge survivors,” said Long Khet, executive director of Youth for Peace, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

Youth See Volunteerism As a Means to a Jobs

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Friday, 12 November 2010 

Cambodian students raise their hands while being addressed by U.N.-backed genocide tribunal officers at Bak Touk High School, in Phnom Penh.

With unemployment still high among Cambodian youth, some have begun to seek volunteer opportunities as a bridge to decent jobs in the future. More and more graduates have shown an interest in volunteer work, which helps them gain experience and expand their networks, said Som Monorom, a project officer at Cambodian Volunteers for Society.

High Schools Underprepared for High Tech: Expert

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Thursday, 16 September 2010

Khmer Unicode keyboard.

When it comes to information technology curriculum, high schools have a long way to go. “The lack of electricity and computer sets in schools is a main obstacle for the implementation of the use of ICT in senior high school education,” Kheng Piseth, Khmer OS program manager at the Open Institute, told “Hello VOA” on Monday.

Student Loans Remain a Heavy Risk for Lenders

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Friday, 27 August 2010

A lack of protections and an unpredictable job market have made lending institutions reluctant to provide student loans, banking officials say.

Students may be hard-pressed to find work after they graduate a university or they may simply not finish school. This has led to closed doors for poor students, especially in the countryside.

“If we do this, it is very risky, because we don't know whether students will finish their educations,” Sophan Nary, deputy CEO for Acleda Bank, told VOA Khmer Tuesday. “Only if the students can earn some income to pay the bank back monthly can we consider offering them loans. Or only if they have guarantees to make sure the bank can get back the money it lent.”

Leadership Chances for the Young Limited: Mentor

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Thursday, 12 August 2010

Leadership roles in public institutions are lacking for today's youth, a development expert said Monday. “In some institutions, young leaders who are well-educated both locally and overseas are not offered the chance to tap their full leadership potential,” Chheang Vannarith, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, told Hello VOA on Monday.

Universities Fail at Critical Thinking: Student Advocate

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Friday, 16 July 2010

Cambodia’s higher education system has failed to address a lack of critical-thinking and problem-solving curricula among university students, a youth advocate told “Hello VOA” on Monday. Instead, says Cheang Sokha, head of the Youth Resource Development Program, “student-centered” approaches exist on paper only within higher education.

Youth Voice Lost To Policymakers: Group

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Wednesday, 16 June 2010 

Cambodia’s youth outstrips the rest of the population by a growing margin, but youth advocates say their voices still go unheard.

“Youth voices are excluded from any decision-making processes in social development, from the grass-root to the national level, because the elders often think that the young lack experience or have a low level of education,” Preap Kol, president of the Outstanding Youth Group, told “Hello VOA” Monday.

Preap Kol, who is also the founder of the newly-established volunteer youth group, said youth today are well educated and capable of contributing to social development, but their elders often think of them as useless.

Policy Alone Inadequate: Youth Advocate

Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Facing a rising number of young people who are graduating school, looking for work and entering society in general, the government is drafting an official national youth policy. But advocates from the growing demographic say a policy alone is not enough.

“If we have only the document, but no institution to implement it, it will be useless,” Sun Chansen, president of the Khmer Youth Association, told “Hello VOA” Monday.

Sun Chansen, whose association represents six non-governmental organizations that work with young people, said a national youth council must be created to enforce the policy.