Thailand Closes About 1,200 Schools at Cambodia Border Amid Border Fighting
The Thai Ministry of Education has ordered the closure of 1,168 schools in provinces along the border with Cambodia, due to escalating fighting between the two countries, the minister said Wednesday.
At the same time, 102 schools in safer zones have been repurposed as temporary evacuation centers to shelter people forced to flee high-risk areas.)
Education Minister Prof. Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat said: “At this point, we have ordered 1,168 educational institutions in border areas to close for safety. At the same time, 102 schools in safe zones have been designated as temporary evacuation centres to accommodate people who have been forced to leave high-risk areas.”
The minister added that vocational-school students are being mobilized to support evacuation efforts, including transporting military supplies and providing food and care to evacuees currently housed in temporary shelters.
The closures come after renewed clashes erupted on December 7 along the Thai–Cambodian border. According to the Thai military, Cambodian forces began shelling Thai positions, which triggered Thai airstrikes on Cambodian military infrastructure in response.
As of this week’s surge in violence, at least seven Cambodian soldiers and five Thai soldiers have reportedly been killed, with heavy civilian displacement.
The closure of schools and conversion of some into shelters reflect the seriousness of the conflict’s spillover into civilian life. Observers warn that the humanitarian and educational impact could be long-lasting if hostilities continue.
