PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is preparing to construct protective bunkers at schools in high-risk border areas as part of broader efforts to safeguard students and teachers in the event of potential security threats.
Ministry spokesperson Khuon Vicheka said the initiative reflects Cambodia’s experience with past conflicts and the need to remain prepared amid an uncertain regional and global security environment.
“Cambodia loves peace. With the experience of past invasions, we cannot yet predict what will happen in the future, including the current global context,” she told The Post.
“Therefore, preparing for a possible attack is a matter that the education ministry is paying close attention to,” she added.
According to Vicheka, the ministry — with support from philanthropists — is preparing to construct 10 bunkers at selected schools located in accessible but high-risk areas along the border.
The protective structures are intended to provide students and staff with safe shelter if hostilities or security incidents occur nearby.
She added that some schools in remote border locations remain difficult to access due to the presence of unexploded ordnance, posing additional safety challenges for both construction teams and local communities.
Education minister Hang Chuon Naron recently inspected one such project during a visit to the site of a new school building and trench system at Kiriwan Senchey Primary School in Oddar Meanchey province.
In a social media post, the minister said he led a delegation from the ministry on March 9 to review progress on the construction, accompanied by senior ministry officials, local authorities and representatives from the provincial administration.
The school is currently building a five-classroom facility, funded by Prime Minister Hun Manet and First Lady Pich Chanmony.
In addition, a protective bunker is being constructed with funding from the education ministry’s Solidarity Foundation.
Kiriwan Senchey Primary School is located in Kiriwan village, Kon Kriel commune, Samrong district of Oddar Meanchey Province, near Cambodia’s northern border.
The safety measures come after education disruptions caused by tensions along border regions earlier this year.
In four affected provinces — Banteay Meanchey Province, Preah Vihear Province, Oddar Meanchey Province and Pursat Province — authorities reported that 113 out of 1,311 schools remained closed as of early January 2026.
During the escalation of the border conflict, 536 schools across five provinces were forced to suspend operations, leaving around 130,000 students unable to attend classes.
Education officials say the construction of bunkers and improved school infrastructure in border areas is aimed at ensuring learning can continue while prioritising the safety of children and teachers in vulnerable communities. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
