The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport on Sunday, 14 December, provided more than $10,000, along with educational materials, food supplies and other essential items, to students, families and educators who have been affected by ongoing Thai attacks.
Education minister Hang Chuon Naron led a delegation from the ministry together with donors to deliver educational supplies, food and essential items to the Provincial Departments of Education, Youth and Sport of Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap provinces at Hun Sen Prasat Bakong High School in Siem Reap province. The departments will distribute the supplied.
In addition, financial assistance was allocated to each province. Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear each received 12 million riel, while Battambang and Siem Reap each received 8 million riel.
Tep Kolap, chair of the board and president of Phnom Penh International University, contributed an additional million riel to each province.
Chuon Naron described the participation of donors in providing these supplies as an “expression of patriotic spirit, demonstrating solidarity and support for fellow citizens in all circumstances”.
He called on education personnel, parents, students and affected families to “transform these hardships into perseverance and inner strength to overcome all obstacles”. All schools were instructed to prepare to receive displaced children and students so they can continue their education, ensuring they have safe learning environments.
The education ministry will continue to provide assistance, including tents and temporary learning spaces, to ensure that teaching and learning activities can continue under all circumstances.
The minister called on all of the Kingdom’s citizens to continue placing their trust in Cambodia’s leadership, including Senate president Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet, who will “always stand with the people to protect national sovereignty and ensure security”.
“Let us all take this difficult moment as an opportunity to further strengthen our unity — like a bundle of chopsticks that cannot be broken by an enemy,” he concluded.
