Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Hang Chuon Naron appealed to parents of students to provide home education in a proper environment and help them obtain more learning materials.
The ministry also allowed schools to take a premature vacation after several people tested positive for Covid-19.
In a Facebook post, Chuon Naron said that to guarantee the continuity of studies, the ministry requested parents to provide home education in a proper environment with tables and chairs. If possible, there should be computers with internet connection too.
“Dear parents and guardians, please help your children by providing more learning materials,” he said.
“The students will use the books set out by the ministry and also look for more information on Youtube, Facebook and the ministry’s website, which has reproduced each previous lesson,” he said.
He also appealed to parents to explain to their children about the spread of Covid-19 and ways to prevent the disease, lest they live in fear.
At present, he said, the disease had not yet worsened. But all families were required to closely follow the developments of the disease daily and join the government in stopping its spread.
“I request all parents and guardians to kindly advise their children not to hang out at places where the risk of infection is high.
“Please advise them to practice personal hygiene, wash hands with soap often and thoroughly, and especially follow the guidelines laid out by the ministry,” he said.
The ministry allowed students ranging from pre-schools to higher-education in both the public and private sectors to take a break from March 16 until further notice to prevent and stop the spread of Covid-19.
It also appealed to parents to encourage their children to stay away from places with a high risk of possible infections such as public swimming pools, gymnasiums, playgrounds and public parks.
On March 13, the ministry put in motion an e-learning programme where students can study free of charge, on social media, Facebook, YouTube and the ministry’s website.
Students can learn six subjects – mathematics, history, physics, chemistry, biology and Khmer literature.
Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association president Ouk Chayavy told The Post on Sunday that so far, mobile phone internet connections seemed to be weak and slow. Sometimes service fees were charged too quickly.
“If it is like today, I think that there is not a lot to gain because we see that the phone system seems to cost too much. This will make people run out of money even quicker if they use the system.”
“The government and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications should do whatever it takes for self-study to work well,” she said.
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