After wealthy businessman Chen Zhi, suspected of running a transnational online fraud syndicate in Cambodia, was arrested, more than 400 university scholarships provided by his foundation were suddenly canceled. Cambodia's former Prime Minister and current Senate President Hun Sen has pledged to cover the affected students' tuition fees.
According to AFP, Narak, who comes from a rural family, said that starting from the end of 2024, the scholarship paid $500 annually towards his tuition and provided a $50 monthly living allowance, easing his family's financial burden.
According to the Cambodia China Times report on the 23rd, following Chen Zhi's arrest and deportation to China, the scholarship program set up in his name was terminated, affecting 418 university students in the process, most of whom come from financially disadvantaged families. After receiving a report from the Ministry of Education, Hun Sen decided to provide tuition support for these students to help them complete their undergraduate studies, but does not include the monthly stipend.
It is reported that recently, the management of the "Chen Zhi" Scholarship Program has formally notified students about the termination of their scholarship support. The Ministry of Education's report points out that a total of 418 students have been affected, distributed across several universities in Phnom Penh, majoring in fields including information technology, computer science, international business management, media and communications, digital economy and tourism, as well as civil engineering.
After receiving the scholarship termination notice, many students expressed concerns over not being able to afford tuition and whether they could complete their studies. Hun Sen subsequently intervened and decided to cover the relevant tuition fees for the affected students until their undergraduate graduation.