Essay Contest Winners Announced by The Cambodian Students Association in Japan

CSAJ or The Cambodian Students Association in Japan has announced the winners of its essay contest, selected from 88 submissions. The essays cover the main problems in Cambodian education system and the what the writers think could solve them. The first prize went to Preung Sokun Osakphea, 16 years old, from Toul Tom Pong High School. Nguon Soksan, 19, from the University of Cambodia, and Poeu Vannarath, 16, from Preah Sisowat High School, placed second and third, respectively.

Here is an excerpt from Osakphea's winning essay:

Despite the many projects and plans to improve education in Cambodia in recent years, the Khmer education system still faces many problems. Financial problems have built a structure of corruption in Cambodia’s academic structure. Low teacher salaries cause them to take bribes, and those students who do not have the ability to pay are forced to drop out of schools. More money is needed to build more schools for students in rural area, so that parents can see the importance of schools first-hand and encourage their children to get an education rather than working in the rice field.

It is not only the government, but also the people’s responsibility to help achieve these improvements. We must cooperate in gathering funds and supplies that we can donate to schools and the poor. We have to help people living in poverty get education so that they can raise their living standards in the future. Finally, many advertisements should be run to teach the people the significance of education and the equality between males and females. Education is a road to prosperity. Better education means better country and better society.

The rest of the the winning essay entries may be found in Phnom Penh Post.