The silence that has hung over Cambodia’s border provinces for nearly a month was finally broken on Monday morning by the sound of school bells and children’s laughter.
On Jan. 5, Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports officially authorized the resumption of classes across Banteay Meanchey province, which borders Thailand.
The move follows a fragile de-escalation of security tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia frontier that had previously paralyzed the region’s education system.
A mass return to learning
The scale of the disruption was immense. According to ministry data, between Dec. 7 and Dec. 27, 2025, security concerns forced the closure of 1,311 schools.
The shutdown sidelined more than 322,000 students and 15,000 teachers, leaving a generation of border-town youth in a state of educational limbo.
While the Thailand-Cambodia joint ceasefire announced on Dec. 27 paved the way for this return, the peace remains fragile.
In a statement, the Thai army noted that while “serious armed clashes” have been avoided, troops remain reinforced and in a state of “high operational readiness” on both sides.
Don Bosco: A sanctuary for the vulnerable
Among the most vital institutions reopening its gates is the Don Bosco Poipet School. Located just 3.5 kilometers from the eastern Thai border, the school is a lifeline for 547 students, many of whom are former street children or come from deeply impoverished backgrounds.
To ensure the sudden reopening left no child behind, school management organized a fleet of transportation on Sunday, Jan. 4, to collect students from remote villages.
“We are doing our best to provide children and young people with maximum care,” the school management told LiCAS News. “Street children and those at risk are the primary target group of our mission here. Their physical and mental well-being is our priority as they return to a sense of normalcy.”
The school, which has produced 5,000 graduates since its inception, operates on the philosophy of St. John Bosco: “Run, jump, play, make noise, but do not sin.”
Beyond the classroom: Humanitarian outreach
The Salesian mission in Cambodia, supported by 19 members including priests and brothers from Cambodia and Thailand, did not remain idle throughout the disruption.
- Emergency aid: On Jan. 1 and 3, members of the Salesian Family distributed essential goods to villagers in Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey who were displaced or affected by the military standoff.
- Vocational focus: In addition to primary education, the Poipet campus continues to offer vocational training in computer science and electrical skills, providing older youth with pathways to employment in a volatile economy.
- Financial support: Through the Don Bosco Children Fund, the mission continues to provide direct bank transfers to families to help cover the costs of public school or Salesian-led programs.
A fragile path forward
The reopening of schools represents more than the resumption of lessons. It is a critical step toward regional stability. However, humanitarian groups remain watchful.
The Salesian Family currently operates seven schools across Cambodia, serving as essential infrastructure for social welfare in some of the country’s most vulnerable regions.
As of Monday morning, the Ministry of Education reported high attendance rates, signaling a strong desire among families to move past the conflict and return to the classroom.
