PM Hun Sen has instructed the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports to discuss with all provincial governors the reopening of schools in non-infectious locations after the COVID-19 spread is seemingly under control.

According to his voice message this morning, the PM urged the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports H.E. Hang Chuon Naron to discuss with provincial and municipal governors to examine the possibility to reopen schools – primary and secondary – in rural areas with no risk of the virus outbreak, but health safety rules must be well carried out.

For urban areas with low infection rate and with vaccination, he continued, the online learning can continue or both in-class with safety distancing and online learning can be applied. But for high-risk areas, only online learning is allowed, the Prime Minister underlined.

“I suggest to think in a flexible way and follow the real situation in each province where it is possible for schools to reopen or keep the distance learning or mix between in-class learning and online learning, otherwise we will be in a situation where our children and youth lose their opportunities [of studying],” he said.

The PM also expressed his optimism over the socio-economic recovery, stressing that the herd immunity in Phnom Penh capital and Kandal province is a positive sign for the resumption of socio-economic activities, including the education sector.

As of Aug. 30, for the children-youth aged 12 to under 18 years old, 1,518,488 or 77.20 percent of the nearly two-million target have received their first dose, while 304,519 already got their 2nd dose.

For the target of 10 million adults, 9,175,478 people have obtained their first jab, or 91.75 percent, among them 8,153,574 have been fully vaccinated.

610.428 booster doses have been administered to frontline officials across the countries.

Cambodia has so far vaccinated about 66.84 percent of the total population of 16 million.

The PM confirmed that students under the age of 12 who have not been vaccinated can also attend school.

He proposed a flexible approach and follow the practice in each province.

Where it is possible to open, then open, where it is not possible to open, implement distance learning, and where it is possible to learn in a variety of ways, it is necessary to mix learning, both directly and online.AKP

• Tags: COVID-19 in Cambodia