… It is indeed a way of dealing with a situation that we have so many students coming from remote provinces such as Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear, Stoeungtreng, Kohkong and others, who have not got ability to compete for seats in the university as those living in the city. For instance, most of the people graduated from the university are mainly city dwellers, who consequently after graduation would rather stay in the city and not the agricultural production places. So as we did in the State of Cambodia regime, we provide additional marks for those coming from afar. Hopefully this would encourage more of those students to apply for this university.
… In those days there were some problems in implementing this policy as well. One example was that the students were from the city but were registered as coming from provinces so as to benefit from the compromising policy. So I wish to place an appeal for an understanding of the policy to offer certain marks for those coming from provinces, as they would not be able to compete with those from the city. This in fact means that everyone has to pass the exam and no one is accepted automatically without passing the exam. So the practice is to give some marks to those from recognized remote provinces in advance. This would help end the practice of sending students with inadequate qualification to the university because they all have to pass the exam… We also should think about allocating seats in the university to those provinces. Take for example three seats should be allocated for Mundulkiri province, etc.
… Concerning the student hostel we already have a hostel already in place and I think we should give priority to female students. This should not be seen as opportunity for all but for female students from families in living difficulties and/or whose families reside far away. So my recommendation is that the university leadership should look seriously into this matter especially the provision of lodging for female students in the above mentioned conditions.
… Today I am very excited to see once again my handwriting in former years. It is very easy to make a judgement after reading this impression that I first wrote in the university’s visitor book. I then wrote: “it is a success and a pride that we have reopened the Institute of Agricultural Technology at Chamka Daung. However this is in fact the first step only. Professors and students have an obligation to seek effectiveness and efficiency, after which the success would be complete. A common point which is key in this search is what to do and how to make Cambodia’s agriculture embark from backwardness to progress aimed at serving the whole economic development. I place my hope in our colleagues here.” (Written at Chamka Daung, January 31, 1985.)
… January 31, 1985 was the time when the Khmer Rouge was strong at the United Nations as well as in the battlefield. Back here we were very poor and had to face with the threat of the Khmer Rouge’s return in great hardship. What I have written above is a proof that we were able to reopen the university under such difficulties. I may propose an analogy that “though the cock does not crow, the sun would shine still.” Universities were reopened six years after the liberation in January 1979. My impression in the university’s visitor book proved clearly this revival. Up to now it is already 17 years. Some people came by and preached that universities exist only when they presented [themselves in Cambodia.] Despite unjust punishment imposed on us, we were still able to have our universities refunctioned.
… Well as for the road to the university, which is in deteriorating condition, I have made a call to HE Mayor Chea Sophara and he told me that the Municipality is in active negotiation for loan from the Asian Development Bank. This road renovation would need a sum of US$ 1.2 million. This road is to be rebuilt up to Cheung Ek — the mass grave. We are now short of money and we already have the consideration given by ADB. Let’s give them a little more time.
… It is indeed very difficult to manage with our coffer as if we were to allocate more resources to urbanize the capital, we would have less and none for the rural areas or even the suburb. We would have same problem if we were to do it otherwise. We have spent a lot of money to cope with flood in 2000 and 2001 and also the organization of communal elections. The elections absorbed Riel 46 billion and this amount could be used to build about ten roads of this length. Let’s us be patient a little bit as late is better than never…
