Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has confirmed that it met online with representatives of the private education sector on Thursday. Ministry spokesperson, Mr. Ros Soveacha, told EAC News that the Ministry “fully understands the operational situation the private sector faces” as a result of Covid-19, but that “no decision was made”, regarding their reopening.

He says during the meeting with Education Minister, Mr. Hang Chuon Naron, private school bosses discussed a list of requests that included permission to reopen. The Ministry told EAC News that it plans to submit the requests, together with its own proposal, to Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth. Mr. Ros Soveacha says any decision on school reopening may also involve Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Schools across Cambodia have been closed since March, following the now-infamous “20 February Community Transmission Event”. In recent weeks, with Phnom Penh’s vaccination drive having accelerated, calls for a reopening have been growing louder. Private schools have complained that with parents demanding fee discounts and landlords reluctant to reduce rent, many of them are facing permanent closure.

While sympathetic, the Royal Government does not appear to be in a hurry. Earlier this week, Education Ministry spokesperson Mr. Ros Soveacha, said schools would not be reopened in the “foreseeable future”, but that the Ministry was working on a plan.