What is the education level required for Cambodians?

Education in Cambodia

Education is so important that all countries throughout the world consider as a primary source of knowledge to be used in development of the countries. Some countries such as the USA, Canada, England...etc employ certain method of education while some others have their own distinct ones. Like those mentioned, Cambodia has its own curriculum of education requiring students to fulfill certain criteria in order to be fully acknowledged as literate and qualified candidates for positions; that is, they have to complete at least their general secondary level.

According to Southeast Asian Ministry of Education organization (SEAMEO), before getting started in their education world, children need to attend preschool classes in order to familiarize themselves with classroom environment for three years. In this stage, students can prepare themselves for the upcoming challenges such as distance from parents, meeting stranger classmates and the boredom they might have in class. Students who attend this level need to be roughly three years of age because at this age they can understand most most of the adults' words, so they can catch up and respond using correct words they mean to use. In other words, students at this age can understand common conversation; and thus, it helps them become teachable. So, in order for children to get accustomed to to their school environment, parents should send their children to pre-classes to help them get started.

The next step is primary school. To be accepted as one graders in primary school, students need to be at least six years olds or seventy months. At this age, students can understand and absorb what they learn very well. They can interact with their teacher and classmates without much interference from unfamiliarity and boredom because they have already completed their pre-schooling. Primary school helps students get some basic literacy and numeracy. So, as they pass their grades year by year, they cam get ready for their secondary education.

The third step in the process is secondary school which is separated into two levels, lower secondary (7-9) and higher secondary school (10-12). In Cambodia, students who attend lower secondary grades are not required to take any entrance exam, but they must be primary school graduates. Secondary school provides students with compulsory knowledge and help them become literates which is helpful for their daily and social lives. Although Cambodia recognizes lower secondary graduates as literates, students should find themselves in need of profound knowledge; and thus, they should pursue their upper-secondary level. Unlike the transfer from primary level, students are required to pass the grade 9 state exam in order to get enrolled in the upper-secondary classes. This upper level helps students broaden their knowledge and practise thinking critically. So, once having finished the level, students are qualified for their future career and they can help develop the country as well.

In conclusion, education is a very important process of development of a country which involves certain steps and criteria. Therefore, in order for those who want to develop themselves and their country, they should involve themselves in education and they should complete at least grade 9 of the secondary school. Education is a long-term investment, so we must be patient to get the results.