A literature review on the effects of failure in the English subject in national grade 12 examinations on Cambodian students

Authors

  • Saem Oeun National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear
  • Kimkong Heng Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v5i2.22561

Keywords:

Cambodian general education, Cambodian students, failure in the English subject, grade 12 examinations, literature review

Abstract

English plays a pivotal role in high-stakes examinations at both national and international contexts. This review article aims to discuss the effects of failure in the English subject in the national grade 12 examinations on Cambodian students. Drawing on secondary sources such as journal articles, conference papers, theses and dissertations, official documents or research reports, books, book chapters, and newspaper articles, the article highlights a number of effects of students’ failure in national high school exams in general contexts, such as (a) increased school dropouts, (b) limited higher education enrolment, (c) limited job opportunities, and (d) compromised psychological well-being. The article also identifies several effects of failure in the English subject in national grade 12 examinations on Cambodian students. These include effects on (a) educational opportunities, (b) job opportunities, (c) communication ability, and (d) psychological well-being. The article provides some recommendations to help students who fail the English subject in the national exam deal with the consequences after exam failure. The recommendations focus on the roles of various stakeholders in general education in Cambodia, such as the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MoEYS), teachers, parents, students, and other relevant stakeholders. The article concludes with some suggestions for future research.

Author Biographies

Saem Oeun, National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear

Saem Oeun is a PhD Student in Education Sciences at the National University of Cheasim Kamchaymear (NUCK), Cambodia. He is also a teacher of English at Hor Nam Hong Preynhea High School and a part-time lecturer at NUCK. He has a Master of Arts in TESOL from the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Royal University of Phnom Penh. His research interests include English Language Teaching and English for General Purposes.

Kimkong Heng, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia

Kimkong Heng holds a PhD in Education from the University of Queensland, Australia. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia. He is also a Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Cambodian Journal of Educational Research, and a Technical Advisor at the Department of Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia. He was conferred the title of Associate Professor by His Majesty the King of Cambodia in 2023. His research interests include TESOL, teacher education, higher education, and academic research engagement.

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Literature Review

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Published

2024-11-17

How to Cite

Oeun, S., & Heng, K. (2024). A literature review on the effects of failure in the English subject in national grade 12 examinations on Cambodian students. Journal of Research on English and Language Learning (J-REaLL), 5(2), 269–281. https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v5i2.22561