Cambodia Allocates $5 Million to Support Border Schools Affected by Thai Incursions

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is preparing to allocate a budget of approximately $5 million (20.5 billion riels) to intervene and support schools in border provinces affected by incursions from Thailand. This significant financial intervention is in response to the impact on 102 schools, 22,103 students, and 805 teachers. Mr. Tep Phyorith, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, stated this during a presentation on the progress of intervention activities to support affected border schools on September 8, 2026. He explained that due to the conflict situation, some students have been forced to evacuate from vulnerable areas to safety, making it difficult for them to continue their studies normally. In response to this issue, the Ministry of Education, upon receiving directives from leadership and support from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, has formulated a plan to allocate approximately 20 billion riels to intervene and assist students and schools in border areas. The intervention plan includes 496 activities, focusing on direct visits to schools to assess and support teaching and learning, school conditions, educational facilities, as well as building repairs and incentives for students, teachers, and educational personnel. As of September 2026, 218 activities (44%) have been completed, 167 (33.7%) are ongoing, and 111 (22.3%) are yet to be implemented. Concurrently, the Ministry has constructed three bunkers and provided support for learning materials, library resources, administrative supplies, food, school health, and environmental and hygiene improvements in affected schools. Mr. Tep Phyorith emphasized that the objective of this intervention is to ensure that schools in border areas are not abandoned, even amidst the conflict's impact, and to enable students to continue receiving education to the best extent possible. He added that through the Ministry's interventions and support, these conflict-affected students have still achieved notable academic results, evidenced by a high pass rate in the 2026 Baccalaureate examinations.