Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron on Monday authorised directors of education departments nationwide to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and issue permits for schools licensed by their respective One Window Service Office (OWSO) to reopen.

The Ministry of Education referred to Directive No 43 dated September 1, on the reopening of general education institutions and private kindergartens in the second phase.

The ministry also pointed to its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the re-operating of educational institutions in the context of the Covid-19 disease dated August 4.

In a letter issued on Monday, Chuon Naron informed the directors of his decision. All educational institutions which were issued licenses by the OWSO in their jurisdiction are eligible to reopen.

After directors inspect and evaluate the educational institutions in line with the SOPs, they are then asked to send a report of the inspection and the permission letter to the ministry. They must send the documents no later than three days after they receive a permit to reopen.

Federation of Education Services in Cambodia president Pech Bolen said on Monday that the decision reflects the efforts of the government and relevant ministries to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and their efforts to provide education to students in Cambodia.

Bolen confirmed that after reopening educational institutions in the second phase more than a week ago, both the education ministry and schools have found a new way to properly accommodate students, parents and teachers.

Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha said on Monday that the decision was made after the ministry met with the 25 provincial and capital education departments to discuss controlling Covid-19.