Cambodian young people are not going easily into the year 2015, the year Cambodia is slated to integrate into the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

About 400 students from across the kingdom gathered at a Phnom Penh forum Sunday morning to talk about the challenges ahead, the biggest of which they consider to be the English language and education.

Problems are Far and Wide

Third-year university student Chean Sengleap believed he was speaking for youth across the country when he expressed his concerns about lacking mastery of the English language. "This is a problem not only me, but most Cambodian youth," he said.

Sompoy Chansok, a representative of the Cambodian Ethnic Youth Association, said young people are at a disadvantage because of the nation's poor education system, especially in the northeast, where most of Cambodia's indigenous people live.

"Without proper education, they will have nothing to say against investment companies that grab their land and their interests, especially with AEC's vision of a free flow of investment," he said.

In agreement that education is sadly lacking across the kingdom was Thida Khus, the executive director of local NGO Silaka. She told Khmer Times that education must be improved before integration into the AEC can be achieved with success.

"Education will have the most impact on Cambodians, especially for the youth and students," she said. "The government must strengthen its focus and be stricter on education."

Learn about Asean Neighbors

Ms. Khus also recommended that Cambodia's youth learn more about the nation's neighboring countries, adding that they would have to strengthen their technical knowledge and skills as well as their understanding of foreign languages.

"Cambodian students should learn not only English, which is the most common language used worldwide, but also learn the languages used in our neighboring countries," she said.

The Cambodian Volunteers for Society (CVS) organized Sunday's meeting, and CVS director Mr. Pen Somony said the concerns raised by participants with regards to the AEC were important and should be discussed at both the national and international level.

Mr. Pich Rith, the director general of International Trade at the Ministry of Commerce who was also at the forum, however, declined to comment when asked if the Ministry will be prepared for AEC this year.

By Khmer Times

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