The NGO Education Partnership (NEP) will host the 60th edition of its monthly discussion series, EduNetTalk, focusing on the pressing issue of education in emergency during the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict. Scheduled for Friday, August 22, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, the session will be broadcast online via Zoom and live-streamed on NEP Cambodia’s Facebook page.
This special edition aims to shed light on the current education situation in regions affected by the ongoing border tensions. Rising insecurity and frequent clashes along the Cambodia–Thailand border have forced many residents to relocate to safer areas or temporary shelters. According to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, as of July 28, 2025, 605 schools across five provinces—including Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong, and Pursat—had been closed, affecting more than 150,000 students and over 6,000 teachers. Despite a ceasefire agreement on July 29, 2025, 320 schools remained closed as of August 5, continuing to disrupt education in these areas.
Temporary shelters lack proper learning spaces, educational materials, and accessibility for children with disabilities. Safety and hygiene challenges—including limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare—compound the risks to students’ well-being. In addition, the psychological and social impact of displacement has led to fear, stress, and interruptions in learning, making children, especially girls and those with disabilities, particularly vulnerable to dropping out.
EduNetTalk 60 will provide a platform for government representatives and civil society actors to share strategies, responses, and policy measures to ensure continued learning under emergency conditions. Key participants include representatives from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and several NGOs such as Plan International Cambodia, FH Cambodia, and World Vision Cambodia. The discussion will cover the coordination of teacher deployment, delivery of learning materials, psychosocial support, and good practices in temporary or mobile classrooms.
The session will be moderated by Save the Children, NEP member, ensuring that all speakers contribute insights and experiences while engaging the audience in interactive question-and-answer segments. The program will conclude with final remarks summarizing key takeaways and encouraging participation in future EduNetTalk sessions.
NEP invites everyone to join, follow, and engage in this important discussion to better understand how education can continue even amid conflict and displacement, and to contribute to solutions that protect the learning rights of all children in emergency situations.
