Cambodia’s anti-corruption body denies leak of hig | RSS.com
Cambodia’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has rejected claims that mathematics exam papers for the national high school diploma were leaked before the official sitting. The watchdog says images circulated on Facebook were altered versions posted after the exam had already taken place.
In a report released on September 7, the ACU said it had investigated the allegations for ten days, from August 29 to September 7, following widespread suspicion that test papers from the August 28 exam session had surfaced online. The inquiry concluded there was no evidence of a leak before students entered the exam halls.
The ACU reviewed the entire process, from the preparation, printing, and packaging of exam papers to their distribution across provinces. Investigators said they found no sign of tampering or missing materials during these stages.
The body added that delivery of exam papers was strictly monitored. Only the chief of each examination centre had custody of sealed envelopes, verified through serial numbers. All prepared papers were first submitted to a deputy secretary of state at the Ministry of Education before being handed to Minister Hangchuon Naron for final review and signature.
The ACU acknowledged suspicions had initially focused on two possible points of compromise: the ministerial review stage and the possibility of absent candidates copying papers during the exam itself. But the agency said neither scenario was confirmed by the investigation.
Instead, the watchdog suggested the images that spread online were most likely photos of completed test papers, folded and manipulated to appear like original exam sheets.
The ACU urged candidates to have confidence in the Ministry of Education and stressed that results, whether A or E, reflected genuine ability.
On September 1, the unit had said there was a possibility of a leak but stopped short of confirming it. Its final report now rules out any breach before the exam began.
The clarification comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Cambodia’s annual diploma exams, which are seen as critical gateways to higher education and job opportunities.
