Schools Reopening in Cambodia during COVID19

School closures in Cambodia have been going on for five months now.  March 17, 2020, was the day when Cambodian government announced to have a national closure of all schools due to the COVID 19 pandemic.  People are acutely conscious about this health issue that is affecting the whole world in a negative and remarkable way.  Due to that, all people that work in the education department have been facing tremendous uncertainties and anxieties about the world’s future, the children.  Schools’ administrations, teachers, and staff have been encountering different levels of stress thinking about what to do or how to deliver education to the children.  People who are in-charge of children’s’ education have been contemplating effective strategies to assist the children though they are staying at home for no other reason, but to discover effective methods of teaching children during these challenging times.  Not only to support them academically but most significantly, socially and psychologically.  Everyone behind the education sector adapts drastically to some strategies available like google classroom and zoom, and have proven these platforms to be effective for the situation we are in.  I’m not only saying here in Cambodia, but all over the world.  Being a teacher myself has experienced dramatic, and one of a kind life changing moments in the said career, teaching.  As what we always hear, there’s always a rainbow after the rain.  The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in a worldwide hurricane that somehow left everyone clueless of what is going to happen next, however, some people fail to realize that this too led to a wonderful discovery and intervention that catapulted to better learning methods.

Five months teaching online via zoom and google classroom has been a success, atleast in my case, but actually to many people I know too.  Now, we are all more literate about the said “technology”, and more skillful on how to create our effective teaching materials, and when I say “we”, that means, teachers and students alike.  It was such a wonderful experience in my case.  Many could attest that the setting up of all platforms needed to facilitate online learning was the most stressful one, but after that, everything else just ran smoothly.  I remember how I used to literally knock my head on the bed which is across my PC table right after my first 40-minute zoom session with my students, due to an unrecognizable stressor.  Haha. I think it was just because of immobilization and the limitations of the distance between myself to my students.  At the very end, I was able to adapt and adjust and delivered better classes, and I would say I was able to produce wonderful 4th grade graduates.  Congratulations to all teachers and I, who put extra effort during the most difficult times so far that we have faced, and I salute each of us, for not giving up but instead keep on doing our best everyday of our teaching lives.  Great job teachers, great job to us all, hope you all enjoyed your summer days off just like I did.  Here we go now, the moment of truth, we are back to school and a NEW kind of school.

Let me tell you now, how the first 20 schools in Cambodia are opening the new academic year 2020-2021.  Yes, in Cambodia, the Ministry of Education conducted a thorough check on all school candidates that would love to re-open their school environment to the students and the public in general.  Excellent job to all these schools, especially ofcourse to the school I am working for.  Below you will see some COVID19 safety protocols that I believe are to be complied and taken effect by all those 20 schools chosen.  Here it goes…

#1 – Wearing a mask is a MUST  – From visitors, to care takers, everyone needs to wear a mask upon entering school.  Masks should be worn at all times, even inside the classroom.  Extra masks to change is highly encouraged.

#2 -Temperature and Health check – This is going to be done more carefully, checking for signs of illnesses before permitted to access the school premises.

#3- Social Distancing– A 2-meter apart from another person needs to be STRICTLY observed.  Sounds simple, but honestly, this could be a challenge to everyone.

#4- School Hours – Students will have shortened school time than before.  That means, some academic lessons are available online as well to support their learning.

#5- ONLINE or @SCHOOL options– parents have the freewill to choose if they want their children to study online or at school.  All subjects, topics, and lesson objectives are going to be identical for the two options presented.  I am confidently saying that, either of the two options, students will learn the same lessons or topics everyday.  It is definitely way more lesson planning for teachers to do, but honestly, I am quite excited about how it is going to be.  Thank goodness I am ready atleast for my first week for this. 🙂 

#6- PE-Arts-Music-IT classes– Strictly, smartly chosen activities for these special subjects are to be observed.  The “2-meter distance rule” will still be observed during these classes.  I am pretty sure our special classes teachers are ready and well-equipped for these.

#7- Drinking Water – All students are required to bring their own water, and refilling at school is NOT allowed.  Pretty clear, we need to avoid contacts from the machine to anyone’s water bottle.

#8 – Bathroom Use – Teacher assistants need to follow students to the bathroom making sure that students keep the “2-meter-distance rule” , and wash their hands properly after toilet use.  Yeah, I think, for anything, anytime, anywhere, the “2-meter-distance-rule” SHOULD be observed.

#9 AC Temperature and Cleaning maintenance – Maintaining 24 deg Celsius is also one of the main things the government has added to the protocols.  So far this has been an intriguing issue to everybody.  It seems that many have something to say about this.  In my case, I don’t mind.  I easily get cold.  Haha.  The intensity and frequency of cleaning and sanitizing the school have also been increased.  Fair enough!  All school support staff has experienced thorough training to improve the way they keep the schools’ sanitation.  I believe the people in this department will also experience tremendous change in their daily tasks.  It is definitely going to be physically exhausting.  Thanks to you all.

#10 Field Trips and Food services banned – This just makes sense.  In line with the 2-meter social distancing, these activities and services need to halt for now.  Good thing we, teachers are creative to think that virtual field trips are also possible.

Here’s another blog I found that could help you guide yourself as well, if you are going to report back to school.  → https://bit.ly/2CaUV51

Putting myself into students’ shoes, it could be very weird for them not to be able to mingle and have a fun free play time with classmates and friends at school.  On the other hand, I am excited to meet my students and to let them realize and accept the new set school rules for now.  As a teacher, the least thing I can do is to make sure they have activities that will trigger their interest to learn though we have to keep distance among us all.  I do believe the power of a little tap on students’ shoulders and giving “high5s”, are tiny little things that motivate students to love learning.  Unfortunately, those now are to be restricted, or can only be done in a real rare case situation.  I am hoping I can remind myself to keep that precautionary measure at all times.  I have a high degree of guilt factor and for me to follow, keep these orders, and implement them could be a challenge, but as optimistic as I am, I know everything will turn out well tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow!

Being an avid fan of John Dewey’s theory, “learning by doing”, https://bit.ly/2PCtFzx I feel that I need to add up a little COVID19 theory in here for me to be able to perform as an effective teacher.  I definitely couldn’t do it on my own, so I want to thank all the people around me right now, my family, my colleagues, my supervisors who have been enthusiastic and patient in supporting me to be able to deliver this new way of teaching methods.  Special mention to my grade 4 buddy, Luigi, thanks for sharing all your digital resources and wonderful ideas about classroom management.  Thanks to my principal ( whom I don’t need to name), for the trust he has been giving me since I started working, and of course, thanks to my love and my kids who understand why I am always busy online.   To conclude, I do hope that the three sectors; the school, the parents, and the students themselves will work together to make sure that new methods of learning that I believe is just going to be temporary, would be implemented successfully, for one great cause; for the best of the children.

There are still ofcourse too many other things I haven’t mentioned here because if I do write all, it will take me ages, and you might not want to read it anymore. Haha!  Unless you have something in particular to ask, please do send me an email, teriz@journey4us.com.  Happy and safe first day of academic year 2020-2021 to all students and teachers all over the world.  Signing off.