China “wants to mainstream its culture as well as political influence to dominate Cambodia because there is competition in the region, and we know that Cambodia is now in geopolitical competition with the great powers in the world.”Īs an alternative, Rong Chhun suggested that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport set up separate language schools so that students can choose whether they want to study Chinese.Ĭurrently, Cambodia offers English and French language instruction in its education curriculum throughout the country from grade four to 12.
"It is about political influence,” he said. The new requirement would serve only to increase Beijing’s influence in Cambodia, said Rong Chhun, an adviser to the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association and a member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council. In response to the move, teachers and political observers say the Cambodian government should strengthen its national culture instead, so citizens will not imitate foreign cultures, especially that of China. On Wednesday, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding in Phnom Penh to introduce the new subject to students from 7th to 12th grade, one of 18 agreements signed during a ceremony between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
An agreement with China to include mandatory Mandarin language classes in Cambodia’s public secondary schools has Cambodian educators worried about growing Chinese influence that will undermine the kingdom’s culture and sovereignty.
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