PM Hun Manet Hails Coconut School Founder, Halts Eviction, and Pledges Monthly Support

PHNOM PENH, August 19, 2026 – Prime Minister Hun Manet has expressed admiration for a young Cambodian founder who established a community school on Kirirom Mountain, and has intervened to halt the demolition of the school's teacher housing, while also pledging monthly financial and food support.

The Prime Minister shared his appreciation for Mr. Ouk VanDay, founder of the Coconut School, after meeting with him and learning about the school's history. The school, built on borrowed land within Kirirom National Park, has been providing education and skills training to over 150 children in the local community. Despite limited personal resources, the founder, along with volunteer teachers, has worked to improve literacy and practical skills for children in the area.

The Prime Minister noted that he had followed the school's activities for some time, including its mobile library initiative promoting reading in several provinces.

Regarding an order from the Kampong Speu military operation zone to dismantle certain structures—including the school's teacher housing—which were reportedly built on historical military land, the Prime Minister issued three directives:

1. Order the Third Military Region and the Kampong Speu military operation zone to suspend the demolition, maintain the current status, and allow the Coconut School to continue operating as usual, with teachers able to remain in their housing.

2. Assign Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth and Kampong Speu Provincial Governor Cheam Chansophorn to conduct an immediate on-site inspection and verification, and work toward a suitable and sustainable solution that ensures the school can continue its operations. The review will also examine the role of the Kirirom Primary School in complementing the Coconut School's educational activities.

3. To ease the school's financial burden, the Prime Minister and First Lady have pledged monthly support of 5 million riel and 1 ton of rice, effective September 2026.

— Source: Office of the Prime Minister

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1HbM21W1y3/

Reported by The Khmer Today