Keynote Address at the Commemoration of the 54^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Royal School of Administration, Conferment of Certificates to the 2009 Executive and Mid-level Civil Servant Trainees of “Preah Vihear” Promotion,  Conferment of Certificates to the Senate’s Officials, Opening of the 6^th Promotion of Executive Civil Servant Program and 4^th Promotion of Low-Level Civil Servant Program And the Opening of the Academic Year 2010-06-02

Phnom Penh, June 3^rd, 2010

Your Venerable Monks,

Excellency Jean – François Desmazières, Ambassador of France to Cambodia,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen distinguished national and international guests,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen board of directors, lecturers, officials and civil servant trainees of the Royal School of Administration!

It is my pleasure to be here to in the commemoration of the 54^th anniversary of the establishment of the Royal School of Administration and the conferment of certificates to 343 executive and mid-level civil servant trainees and officials from the Senate, the opening of the 6^th promotion of the executive civil servant program and 4^th promotion of the low-level civil servant program, and the opening of the academic year 2010. This event allows former and current students and trainees coming from all parts of the country and abroad to gather and refresh all the memories, especially with regard to our joint effort in the development of civil servants’ capacity which still remain a priority of the Royal Government in its response to socio-economic development requirements in the era of globalization, intensified by competition and advancement of IT.

Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Royal Government and myself, I would like to praise the Royal School of Administration for its magnificent contribution to Cambodia’s bid to strengthen its ownership and human development needs as set forth in the Rectangular Strategy-Phase II for growth, employment, equity and efficiency. This fruitful achievement has become well-grown seeds across the country. In particular, the school’s graduates have been dispatched to work in various ministries – institutions, municipalities, provinces and districts across the country, an indication of success of the Royal School of Administration.

Along with this, I would like to congratulate and appreciate the lecturers, officials and trainees of the Royal School of Administration for the hard work in providing training, education, and developing code of ethics for civil servants until achieving these proud and fruitful results. Indeed, these fruitful results timely respond to the royal government’s regional and global integration policy which requires adequate and capable human resources to achieve competitive advantage in labour market and improve economic efficiency in socio-economic development that result in rapid poverty reduction and better living standard.

Along with this, on behalf of the royal government and myself, I would like to thank the government and people of France, through H.E. Jean – François Desmazières, for their valuable support for the Royal School of Administration since the beginning, especially “the Priority Solidarity Fund for the Support of Public Service Modernization Project” which also includes the modernization of the Royal School of Administration by the end of August 2010. I strongly believe that this assistance will continue for the sake of both stronger relationship and modernization of the school. Moreover, I would also like to thank GTZ, UNDP and training institutions for the cooperation and exchange of experiences that enable us to improve quality, expand the scope of programs, and provide training programs on public administration, trade and diplomacy.

As the Director of the Royal School of Administration, H.E Ly Kimsok mentioned a moment ago that the Royal School of Administration was established under the Royal Wisdom of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the former King of Cambodia, during which Cambodia was facing with public administration challenge after the country gained its independent from France. This clearly reflected that in solving major challenges we need to have a leader with special characteristics, a comprehensive and long-term vision. In this sense, Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk has left the most valuable heritage for the nation, including the base for human resource development in public administration sector, especially, he has worked as a  government official, which inspire us as the new generation to follow his initiative.

In this connection, I would like to share some experiences and concepts about the value and special characteristics that government officials and the entire public administration should adhere to. In that, discipline is one among many other major factors for achieving work success. Individuals must have self-discipline first before they can adhere to those disciplines imposed by institutions and society. Government officials must act as role models by coming to work on time so that government institutions can operate without wasting any time. This is a key principle to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of providing public services to people. In this regard, discipline in public administration is the key to assist government officials in performing their duties in order to achieve success in managing the country with governance. Hence, the recruitment of public administration officials must be done through strict and appropriate examination process to ensure that those capable, talented, and merited officials can serve the nation. At the same time, training requires quality which could be conducted with capacity, talent, confidence, and with broad communication network. In addition to that, job distribution, promotion, and remuneration should be done base on skills, work talent and discipline of each official. With regard to this issue, I reckon the Royal School of Administration has contributed immensely to that. At the mean time, I am pleased to encourage the Royal School of Administration to further continue its efforts to produce public sector leaders with nobility and capacity in order to enable us to strengthen our ownership and reduce dependency on international experts and consultants.

Indeed, the Royal School of Administration, so far, has developed a lot of human resources, many of whom are currently serving in the ministries, institutions, departments and at the sub-national administration. After the completion of studies, former students and trainees, and the management of the Royal School of Administration and the current students and trainees still maintain their close connection and relationship in both private and working lives. I realize that this is truly a profound act which preserves our Khmer tradition of long lasting friendship. In this connection, I would like to support the school’s initiative of creating the alumni of ex-students and the alumni of ex-trainees as well as the Royal Administration School Fund, which aimed to further improve the school for the interest of developing capable, skilful, creative and active human resource that are the necessary factors for achieving economic growth and poverty reduction of the people. These factors have indeed responded to the objective of the Royal Government which always regards human resource development as an effective mean for the development of human personality, sustainable development as well as ensuring equitable distribution of economic growth. 

I strongly believe that both alumni being inaugurated today will receive unanimous support from all ex-students and ex-trainees, which will allow the Royal School of Administration to be more recognized in its mission for human resource development.

Once again, on behalf of the Royal Government, I would like to appreciate and congratulate the 343 graduates who have successfully completed their studies and about to receive their certificates shortly together with the governing board, civil servants, lecturers and staffs of the Royal School of Administration, who have put greatest efforts in fulfilling the obligation of building intellectual capital for our society. We have to bear in mind that the quality and work efficiency along with the right efforts made by the governing board, civil servants and by all lecturers of the Royal School of Administration will in turn bring about the quality and work efficiency in providing public services in Cambodia.

All graduates who are about to receive their degrees, certificates and academic attestations shortly and about to get involved in the public sector must maintain their personal efforts by trying to display their skills and masterpieces with patience, especially strictly limiting and abiding by their self-discipline in order to achieve success in fulfilling their works and duties as allocated by the management. Moreover, the knowledge you have earned today should be appropriately and effectively used to serve the interest of the society. You must also try to update your researches, strengthen and expand your knowledge in order to constantly support and enhance your capacity according to the development of scientific knowledge and technology in the age of globalization in this 21^st century.

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