BANTEAY MEANCHEY – While soldiers guard the border, Eang Buntheang is focused on a different kind of defense: teaching young Cambodians to build a stronger, more educated nation.

Near the watershed line that divides Cambodia from Thailand, a modest English school hums with the sound of children reading aloud. Their voices, clear and confident, rise above the quiet rural borderlands.

Buntheang’s “English Training School” may not look impressive from the outside. It sits inside a simple, warehouse-like structure with two small classrooms under corrugated iron roofs. Ceiling fans spin lazily overhead, and worn tables fill the room. A lone tree shades the front yard while LED bulbs brighten the space at night, casting light on the eager faces of his students.

Inside, several children share the same desk, sitting close together as they read and write. With only a notebook, a pencil, and determination, they push through long distances and difficult conditions to learn.

The school stands in O Bei Choan village, about 30 kilometers from Poipet, the bustling border city in Banteay Meanchey province. For children who cannot afford to travel daily to the city, this small school offers a rare opportunity to study English close to home.

Accessibility has long been a challenge, and the area has recently faced turmoil. Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops broke out for nearly a week, leaving casualties and forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to flee. Buntheang’s school is located just 300 meters from the local border checkpoint.

Cambodianess came across Buntheang’s English school on October 15 during a visit to the border villages. Moved by his persistence and the importance of his work, reporter Ky Chamna documented his story as peace negotiations were still underway. On October 26, Cambodia and Thailand signed a peace accord in Malaysia under U.S. supervision to restore diplomatic ties.

Ky Chamna: What inspired you to set up an English school only minutes away from the Thai border?

Eang Buntheang: I am originally from Sa’ang district in Kandal province, hundreds of kilometers from here. I first came to Banteay Meanchey for another reason, never imagining I would end up teaching English.

One day, some parents who trade goods near the border asked if I could tutor their children part time. I agreed and began with just four students, all in their early teens.

Ky Chamna: What did your early lessons look like?

Eang Buntheang: I taught them vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar for about an hour each day. Within six months, they could speak simple sentences and translate short phrases between Khmer and English. I even broke my motorbike riding through rough roads to reach them.

As the years passed, my students told their friends and siblings about the classes. More children joined, and eventually I decided to rent a small space and officially open the English Training School in 2022.

Today, I teach around 200 students across two classes, spending about 10 hours a day in total. A few young volunteers from nearby universities also help me teach the younger ones.

Many families cannot afford to send their children on 90-minute trips to Poipet for lessons. That is why I started this school—to give them access to education close to home and close to their families.

Ky Chamna: How much do you charge, and what materials do you use?

Eang Buntheang: When I started, tuition was 20,000 riels a month—around five dollars. Now it is 40,000 riels, or about ten dollars, to cover expenses. But I am not strict about payment. Some students owe months of fees, yet I let them continue. What matters most is that they keep learning.

I use textbooks like ‘English for Children’, ‘Headway Beginner’, and ‘Headway Pre-Intermediate’. Because we only have one hour per class, I focus mainly on reading and writing basics. We have not started doing presentations yet.

I also ask students not to use phones or the internet during class. Technology can be useful, but it can also distract them with unnecessary content. I want them to stay focused.

Ky Chamna: Do you also teach students from the Thai side of the border?

Eang Buntheang: Some Thai parents have approached me about teaching their children, but I had to decline because I cannot speak Thai. It would be hard to communicate without a shared language before introducing English.

I have also seen many Cambodian children studying in Thai schools. I try to convince them to come back and learn here, in their own community.

Ky Chamna: How have the parents responded to your work?

Eang Buntheang: I cannot say for sure how much they appreciate it, but if they did not, they would not send their children here. When I go shopping in the village, parents often ask how their children are doing and sometimes bring me small gifts as a token of thanks.

Ky Chamna: What is your teaching background?

Eang Buntheang: I do not have formal training as a teacher. I started learning English in the mid-1990s from a local teacher in Sa’ang district who has since passed away. I admired his dedication—he taught because he wanted children to have knowledge.

Later, I moved to Phnom Penh to continue my studies. His example stayed with me, and that inspired me to teach children living in border areas today.

Ky Chamna: I notice you also sell snacks at your school, though not very actively. Why is that?

Eang Buntheang: I used to sell sugary drinks and processed snacks, like most schools do. But I realized those drinks were unhealthy, so I stopped selling them. As for the snacks, I decided to keep a few available.

If I stop selling snacks, the children would run across the road to buy them from local shops, which is dangerous. Vehicles pass fast here, and they might be late for class. So, I sell small snacks to keep them safe on the school grounds.

I also remind parents not to give too much pocket money. Just enough for a bag of chips or a bottle of water is fine.

Ky Chamna: How did the recent border conflict affect your teaching?

Eang Buntheang: During the clashes in late August, many families evacuated temporarily, and I had to do the same. When fighting intensified, some parents came to pick up their children. For those who could not, I personally drove the children home to make sure they reached safely.

Ky Chamna: What improvements do you hope to make for your school?

Eang Buntheang: If I can secure enough funds, I want to buy a school van and hire a driver to transport students between their homes and the school. Many of them still walk long distances alone, and I worry about their safety.