The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has decided to allow all middle and high schools, both public and private, in the capital to reopen from September 15 onwards, as long as they strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

In an announcement dated September 9, governor Khuong Sreng said the decision followed thorough assessment and in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

The ministry on August 31 issued a five-page set of instructions to state and private schools outlining the conditions under which some of them may be allowed to reopen.

The instructions state that in order to help students prepare for grades 9 and 12 exams in November and December respectively, some private and state institutions can possibly reopen depending on their local situation, available resources and the ingenuity of their administrations.

The instructions divide schools into three categories based on the prevailing Covid-19 conditions for the locations they are in – zero transmission areas, light transmission areas where students have been vaccinated and high-risk areas.

For kindergartens and primary schools, Sreng said they need to submit a request to the municipality in order for it to dispatch relevant authorities to assess the Covid-19 situation in their area.