By Sieam Bunthy
Wednesday, 09 May 2012
Phnom Penh Post
Dr Sokheang
Chea, founder and chairman of Arizon Group Co Ltd, which invests in
education and real estate in Cambodia, speaks to the Post last week in
Phnom Penh. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
Chea Sokheng, general director of Arizon Group Ltd, a potential investor
in Cambodia’s education and real estate sectors, said that investment
in education is a main contributor to developing human resources and
growth of the national economy.
Though he mentioned the
opportunity to invest in the education sector in Cambodia is getting
increasingly narrow, progress in the sector has been significant.
“Investing
in the private education sector produces a lot of benefits for national
society. First, we can say that opening schools is better than opening
gambling houses and brothels,” Chea Sokheng said.
“Although the
quality of schools is limited, it is still getting better. Those
possessing a high level of knowledge teach those of a medium level
knowledge. And those of this medium level of knowledge teach those of
less knowledge. And so on and so on. Some countries are not rich in
human resources, but they use their human resources to make money as
revenues for their countries.”
Chea Sokheng is a founder of
Cambodian Arizon School and New York International School, which has
progressed from 2,000 students to 16,000 students at present. The school
has been well known in the country since 2004.
“Investment in
the education sector is less risky if compared to real estate but
revenue is also lower. The real estate is like rain: it’s regular,” he
said.
Chea Kheng was born in 1971 in Takeo province. He
experienced the Pol Pot regime as a child. He moved to Phnom Penh with
his family in 1980 and continued his studies there.
His family
was poor and in 1990 he taught a supplement English class to earn money
to support his studies and family. In 1991 and 1992, he studied medical
health at the University of Health Science.
“In 1996, I was
studying and teaching English at the same time. The idea that I had was
that I wouldn’t be able to immediately make money off of studying
medicine as I wanted. I saw lots of gaps in the education sector at the
time. It was my favourite sector and the government was doing a lot to
encourage investment in it, so I had an idea to invest directly in this
sector,” he said.
Chea Sokheng founded the New York Center in
1996 and changed the name to New York School in 2004. The school now has
18 branches.
“Success in investing in the education sector is
not only based on budget, but also on knowledge and experience,” he
said, adding that for past five years private investment in the
education sector in Cambodia has been remarkably developed.
However,
Chea Sokheng said he is worried that the economic integration with
regional neighbours in 2015 will cause competition for both products and
jobs.
“If we compare the quality of our education to that of
neighbouring countries, we should try to strengthen it additionally.
Some students completed their classes, but they don’t have the full
ability to work,” he said.
New York International School and Arizon School have kindergarten to grade 12 instruction in Khmer and English.
He continued that his company will expand investments in the sector.
In 2014 he will establish a higher education named Arizon University.
“Besides,
investment in the education sector, we plan to invest in the
construction sector, tourist companies and microfinance institution as
well,” said Chea Kheng.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sieam Bunthy at bunthy.sieam@phnompenhpost.com
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