By: Phoeurng Phearak
BANTEAY MEANCHEY – A digital library has been opened in Banteay Meanchey province for young students displaced by the Cambodia-Thailand conflict.
Students in Battambang province use computers at Khnach Romeas Primary School.
Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron presided over the launches on Aug. 24 and 25.
The library opening was at Banteay Mean Rit Secondary School as part of broader education support in Rong Cham village in Svay Chek district, a temporary home to thousands of displaced families.
The digital library is expected to expand students’ access to learning materials beyond conventional textbooks while giving them opportunities to develop digital skills. It will help 1,898 displaced students (928 females) across five temporarily schools.
These are Prey Chan Primary School, Chok Chey Primary School, Samaki Chrok Primary School, Banteay Mean Rit Primary School and Banteay Mean Rit Lower Secondary School.
Nann Sinoun, principal of Banteay Mean Rit Secondary School.
Nann Sinoun, principal of Banteay Mean Rit Secondary School, said the support is essential for students and teachers to keep up with the digital age. They only need more teachers with computer skills to use the equipment.
The school currently has six teachers and 207 students, including 121 girls. Some students had moved between schools to follow their families as they relocated, posing another difficulty in their studies, while some parts of the secondary school had been damaged, including leaking roofs that affected teachers’ documents and other facilities.
“Despite what happened, we remain committed to continuing to pay attention to teaching all the students,” Sinoun said, adding that students’ psychological well-being and willingness to study had improved.
To the five schools, the Action Education Cambodia (AEA), one of the Education Ministry’s development partners, also contributed learning materials and food for the affected children, encouraging them to continue their studies and sport activities despite the hardship.
The assistance included 207 bicycles, 10.4 tonnes of rice, 500 library books, 4,000 textbooks, 70 computers for digital learning rooms and libraries, an LCD projector, 60 school bags, 50 student desks, five sets of sports equipment and 2,000 sets of sportswear.
The facility at Banteay Mean Rit Secondary School in Kouk Romiet commune, Thma Puok district, was inaugurated on Aug. 24 in a ceremony presided over by Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron.
Digital Education Expanded to Battambang
Action Education’s digital education program has also expanded beyond Banteay Meanchey. On Aug. 25, the organization joined local education authorities in launching the Digital Education, Research and Innovation Center at seven non-displaced schools in Bavel district, Battambang province.
Those were Khnach Romeas Secondary School, Hun Sen Khnach Romeas Primary School, Tasda Primary School, Chroy Sdao Primary School, Nikom Primary School, Nyar Primary School and Bill and Nancy Kaun Khlong Primary School.
Under the initiative, Action Education will contribute 50% of the cost of additional computers, subject to the program’s conditions and funding limits, and provide 55 computers, 700 library books, 2,000 textbooks and seven sets of sports equipment to the participating schools.
Vorn Samphors, country director of AEA, said the Battambang launch marked the opening of what he described as “Action Education’s 3,000th Digital Education Room”.
He encouraged schools to continue mobilizing resources to purchase additional computers and expand students’ access to digital learning.
Material Supports Lift Spirit for Learning
According to Samphors, the organization wants affected children to have access to digital technology, including artificial intelligence tools and other educational content that can encourage them to continue their studies.
“This support is important in strengthening education and helping ease the challenges faced by students in border communities,” he said. “We believe that supporting schools and children today is about creating opportunities for their future.”
The material assistance gives hope for the students and relief for the teachers, pushing them to continue providing classes despite damaged infrastructure and the disruption.
Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron praised the organization partners for the continued support for children and teachers in border communities, saying “the support from Action Education and organisations is a tremendous source of encouragement for students and teachers who are facing difficult circumstances.”
The support extends beyond education materials. Since July, the Ministry of Education has been providing food to displaced students.
Samphors said the organization has rolled out support 10 times since the first clashes in July 2025, and they are planning to continue the support.
The organization would continue working to keep classrooms operating, libraries functioning and digital learning facilities accessible to students and young people, while supporting teachers through training.
“We hope students from here will become human resources and citizens who can contribute to protecting and developing the country in the future,” Samphors said.
Disclaimer: This article was first published on the Cambodianess News website and is reproduced here with permission. Click here to access the original post.
