Border Schools to Reopen Jan. 5 as Ceasefire Restores Calm in Banteay Meanchey

BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia (Jan. 2, 2026) — Authorities in Banteay Meanchey Province announced Friday that schools will reopen Jan. 5, marking a major step toward restoring normal life after weeks of border clashes with Thailand forced mass closures and displaced hundreds of thousands of families.

The provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sports said all schools will resume classes except four — Chouk Chhay Primary, Prey Chan Primary in Ou Chrov District, and Banteay Mean Rith Primary and Secondary in Thma Puok District — which remain closed due to safety concerns.

The reopening follows a ceasefire agreement signed Dec. 27 that has brought relative calm to border areas, enabling families to return home and allowing administrative, health and education services to resume.

More than 1,000 schools along the border were shut during the fighting, disrupting classes for nearly 255,000 students. Authorities said Thursday that 100,177 displaced persons have returned to their villages, reducing the displaced population to 409,186. In total, more than 230,000 civilians have gone home since the ceasefire.

Officials said the resumption of classes is a critical step in rebuilding stability and ensuring children can return to learning after months of disruption.