By: Uth Raksmey and Phoeurng Phearak
ODDAR MEANCHEY – About 60 students at Bos Thom Primary School in Oddar Meanchey province have returned to class after being displaced by fighting along the Cambodia-Thailand border, but fear and uncertainty continue to affect their education.
This photo shows around 60 students at Bos Thom Primary School in Oddar Meanchey province.
Since December last year, more than 640,000 people had been displaced by the conflict, but 18,703 people, including 9,437 women and 6,066 children, are still unable to return to their homes, the Ministry of Interior says.
The ministry attributed the continued displacement to obstruction by the Thai military. To date, 15 schools in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces remained closed, limiting access to education despite the ceasefire.
One of the schools directly affected by the clashes was Bos Thom Primary School. It is in Banteay Ampil district, about 6km from the fighting zone at the border, and was badly damaged twice in 2025.
Ath Socheat, the school director, said parts classrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen were damaged, while unexploded ordnance remains around the school.
The school reopened about two months ago after students and their families returned from displacement camps. But enrollment has fallen to just over 60 students from about 80 before the conflict, as some families remain displaced or have transferred their children to schools near relatives or other temporary locations.
During the second clashes in December, a bomb landed about 10 meters from the area where students were eating, prompting teachers to take the children to one of two shelters on the school grounds.
The conflict, again, damaged parts of the school, including roofs, bathrooms and water tanks. Some classrooms remain vulnerable, with damaged roofs that could cause problems during heavy rain.
Ath Socheat, school director of Bos Thom Primary School.
Guardians Reassured of Safety, Concerns Remain
The continued security concerns have also affected attendance, with some parents reluctant to send their children to school because of safety fears, and the memory of the most recent bombing remained fresh among teachers and students.
Despite the challenges, teachers have continued providing education while following instructions from authorities and preparing safety measures in case the security situation deteriorates.
Heurk Korng, a villager from Bos Thom who has four grandchildren at the school, said the conflict had severely disrupted their education as they changed schools repeatedly with the family’s relocation to safety.
“When the bombs fell, I had to carry my grandchildren and flee to Siem Reap. One of them also became sick,” Korng said.
Heurk Korng, a villager from Bos Thom who has four grandchildren studying at the Bos Thom Primary school.
No One Be Left Behind
Action Education Cambodia (AEA), one of the Education Ministry’s development partners, provided food, clothing and educational supplies to support 100 students and the school community.
The aid included 500 kilos of rice, 10 cases of noodles, six cases of milk, 20 large packages of snacks, sports clothing, notebooks, sports equipment, educational materials and other essential supplies for students, teachers and the school.
AEA director Vorn Samphos said the assistance was intended not only to provide material support but also to show solidarity with children, teachers and communities affected by the conflict.
Korng welcomed support from aid organizations, saying educational materials had helped families struggling to provide for their children.
“For me, I just want my grandchildren to be able to continue their education until they finish. I would like to see more support for students along the border so they can continue learning. Here, we cannot farm or grow cassava properly either,” Korng said.
Ban Samnang, whose child is in Grade 4, said she was happy to see an organization provide educational supplies to the school.
“We are facing many difficulties. We had to run, crawl and hide in trenches. Even now, the children study while being afraid,” she said. “We still lack things for our children’s education, but I want to see my child continue studying at school.”
Ban Samnang, whose child is in Grade 4 at Bos Thom primary school
The materials were also to give students hope and let them know they are not alone during the hardship. The organization’s response focused on reducing the impact of the conflict on children and schools while helping education communities continue learning activities and protect children’s wellbeing.
“Action Education’s support is not only about the value of the food or materials. It is also a demonstration that we are with the children, teachers and their communities during this difficult time,” Samphors said.
The support reflects Action Education’s commitment to ensuring that children’s right to education and protection remain priorities even as communities continue to face difficult circumstances.
Action Education Director Vorn Samphos provides educational materials to support students at Bos Thom Primary School on Aug. 23
Disclaimer: This article was first published on the Cambodianess News website and is reproduced here with permission. Click here to access the original post.
