Background
On 7 August 2026, an Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) observation team accompanied by provincial Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport representatives and Siem Reap provincial officials inspected sealed examination packets stored at the Siem Reap provincial education office.
The inspection report stated that the technical seals (sceller) on storage containers were intact, materials were stored in a secure location, and staff were assigned to guard the packets; the team recorded an inventory of 32 sealed exam packets and 47 empty packets. Sealing containers, maintaining a recorded inventory, and assigning custodial staff are operational controls commonly used by provincial education offices to protect national examination materials during pre-examination custody.
Institutional Role
The ACU conducts observation missions that document the physical security and custody of vulnerable public documents, coordinating with provincial education authorities to review on-site controls. Provincial education offices are responsible for implementing storage, sealing, and custody procedures for national examination materials under the administrative oversight of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
Operational Implications
For provincial education administrators, the presence of intact seals, a verifiable inventory, and stationed staff are practical measures to reduce the risk of unauthorized access before exams are administered. Regular documented inspections by oversight bodies create an auditable record of custody practices that local managers can reference when updating procedures or responding to later queries about exam integrity.
