Cambodian education ministry pushes for repair of schools damaged in border clashes

The work will also include requests for mine clearance in affected areas.

PHNOM PENH – Officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will conduct on-site inspections of the more than 600 schools damaged during the recent border conflict, with plans to carry out repairs and rebuild new facilities. The work will also include requests for mine clearance in affected areas. The inspection plan was agreed upon during a Monday, September 1 meeting, chaired, by education minister Hang Chuon Naron. The attendees focused on the inspection of damaged school buildings on the border and strategies for their repair and reconstruction. According to the ministry, discussions reviewed proposals to improve and finalise plans for rehabilitating schools damaged by Thai attacks, as well as constructing new ministry-standard school buildings. Temporary learning spaces will also be set up to ensure teaching and learning can continue while the permanent facilities are under construction. After hearing reports on the construction of temporary classrooms and the status of damaged education infrastructure along the border in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, the education minister instructed officials to conduct field inspections at specific sites to gain a full understanding of the work that is needed and to accelerate repair and construction operations. The ministry has been tasked with preparing standard school building blueprints, constructing libraries, drafting project budgets and requesting policy approval for construction and repair to ensure readiness for the upcoming academic year. The ministry will also coordinate with mine clearance agencies to guarantee the safety of the school campuses affected by the conflict. In cases where instability along the border may prevent construction from proceeding, the ministry will arrange for the new academic year to open in safe alternative locations, ensuring teaching and learning can continue uninterrupted. Reports on the conditions of damaged schools will also be compiled, along with analysis of solutions and proposals for suitable temporary teaching sites. Chuon Naron emphasised the urgency of the mission. “I urge all relevant working groups to prioritise this work according to their expertise, to ensure that students living in the border regions can continue their education in the new academic year 2025–2026,” he said. The ministry will continue to work closely with the provincial education departments in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear to monitor the welfare of teachers, students and communities, and to provide sustained support to the fullest extent possible. The recent clashes with Thai troops forced the closure of 605 schools, affecting 150,000 students and more than 6,000 teachers.