The Ministry of Civil Service has reiterated that the recent examinations held to recruit 250 agriculture officials were successfully held in a “fair and transparent” manner. 

It added that the successful exam process reflected recent reforms in public service and strengthened good governance, as prioritised under the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy. 

In a December 24 press release, the ministry said the successful conclusion of the process – the exams took place on December 17, with corrections concluding five days later – and its results should be a source of pride to all stakeholders.

“The exams were successfully completed in a well-disciplined, open, orderly and accurate manner. They were monitored by officials from the Anti-Corruption Unit [ACU], as well as other invigilators, and the media,” added the release.

The ministry noted that the exams marked the first example of the recruitment of new civil servants under the new government mandate. It was based on the principles of meritocracy, transparency, justice, inclusiveness and effectiveness. 

It explained that the 3,173 candidates, 1,474 of them women, were divided into 93 exam rooms. The hopeful applicants were strictly checked in a two-phase process before being allowed to enter the exam halls. Their identities had also been thoroughly verified before they sat the test.

Following the five-day correction period, the 250 officials needed for the first phase of the government’s long-term roll-out of specialist agricultural officials to targeted communes were recruited. Of the 250, 95 were women. They will be dispatched to 250 target communes in the initial phase.

The ministry also reserved 10 candidates in each district, in order to replace any officials who resign or relinquish their posts.

“The exam committee thanks all relevant institutions and working teams for their contributions to making these exams successful, in line with the principle of public service reform, as well as good governance, as stated in the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I,” said the ministry.

Minister of Civil Service Hun Many had stressed that the results of the exams would reflect the ability of the candidates, and would be entirely based on their answers to the questions and topics selected for them to answer. 

“After they pass the exam process, we will provide practical training for about one year. First, we recruit them based on their abilities and knowledge, and then we provide them with specialised training in response to the area that they will be based in. 

“The training will focus on the growing and cultivation of crops,” he said during a December 22 press conference.

Pang Vannaseth, director of the Banteay Meanchey provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, spoke highly of the initiative, noting that the recruitment of the new agriculture officials is of critical importance to the Kingdom’s agriculture sector.

“As we all know, Cambodia remains an agricultural nation, and we must place agriculture on top. Unfortunately, modern crop growing knowledge is still needed among farmers. Therefore, we must provide them with the support they need to focus on new techniques,” he said.

He added that his department is ready to work with and support the new recruits.