Two education ministry officials Srouy Phanit and Sous Sovannarin will escort three outstanding physics students from grade 10 to Japan on October 16 for the Sakura Science High School Programme, run by the Japanese Science and Technology Agency.

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hang Chuon Naron said a May 31 letter from the Science and Technology Agency had confirmed their invitations.

Phanith, deputy director of the Examination Department, and Sovannarin, scholarship officer of the Department of Secondary Education, will supervise the students on their one week tour, from October 17-21.

The three students, all 15 years of age, are from three different provinces. Mao Thalen attends USA International High School in Grade 10C in Battambang, Son Prasidh goes to Prey Veng’s Mesang High School in Grade 10A and Hour Thaily studies in Grade 10B at Preah Bat Suramrit High School in Kampong Chhnang province.

USA International School praised Thalen on its Facebook page, saying that she was the number one winner of a national competition organized by the education ministry on March 2.

“Mao Thalen, a USA International High School student won first place at the national level in the ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO + 3) completion of physics organised by the education ministry. She will be visiting Japan to attend a science programme. We wish you more success in the future,” it posted.

Chhun Pheng, a physics teacher at Mesang High School in Prey Veng province, expressed his happiness at the excellent results of his students, in both mathematics and physics, in the 10th grade competition.

“Congratulations to the students of Mesang High School who passed the national examination in Mathematics and Physics. Candidates who passed the exam will go through additional training at the Royal University of Phnom Penh as they prepare to compete on the international stage,” he said.