Border Area Students Overcome War Trauma, Achieve High Pass Rates in BacII Exams

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hang Chuon Naron, stated that the excellent results of the 2026 BacII (high school diploma) examinations for students in three border provinces—Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey—serve as clear evidence of their hard work and perseverance. He highlighted that students have "transformed suffering into a driving force," reflecting their resilience and the active efforts of their teachers. Minister Hang Chuon Naron made these remarks during a visit to the Ta Koun Bai Tong safety camp in Preah Vihear province on the morning of September 3, 2026, where he met with the camp management committee, education staff, teachers, and students. These three provinces have faced incursions by Thai military forces, resulting in the damage of many schools and the displacement of numerous students who were then studying in temporary shelters. He emphasized that the BacII examination results from students in Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Banteay Meanchey are a testament to their determination to study, even when facing difficulties and border conflicts. He also noted that these results reflect the dedicated teaching of the educators and the support from families, guardians, and communities in promoting educational quality. During the event, Minister Hang Chuon Naron expressed his admiration and gratitude to the camp management committee, education staff, and teachers for continuing their duties under all circumstances. He also thanked parents and guardians for sending their children to receive education despite living in challenging conditions. The Ministry of Education also commended the resilient spirit of students in the border provinces with Thailand. Despite experiencing conflict, their pass rates in the 2026 BacII exams were comparable to other provinces. Specifically, the pass rates were 89.44% for Oddar Meanchey, 87.96% for Preah Vihear, and 84.37% for Banteay Meanchey. The minister stressed the importance of education continuing with "resilience and innovation" to ensure that students in safety camps can pursue their studies, even in difficult situations. During the visit, the Ministry of Education delegation participated in preparing meals for students as part of the school feeding program for those in safety camps. This initiative received financial support from Japanese donors through the World Food Programme (WFP). The delegation also inspected temporary classrooms and surrounding infrastructure to assess actual needs and to further improve the learning environment and living conditions for educational staff and students. Concurrently, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports presented essential supplies, educational materials, food items, and financial aid from donors to the camp management committee and teachers to alleviate their hardships and support the operation of the temporary schools.