Some Thai schools near the border with Cambodia have reopened after a ceasefire between the two countries largely put a stop to armed clashes.
At a school in Ubon Ratchathani, an eastern Thai province around 70 kilometers from the border, students returned to campus on Monday.
"Schools in dangerous areas remain closed, but this area is safe for now, so we've resumed classes," said Krisada, the school principal.
Part of the school had been serving as a temporary shelter for evacuees from Nam Yuen district -- one of the areas most affected by the Thai-Cambodian border clashes.
Many students taking shelter there are still waiting for the chance to return to school.
"I saw my friends going back to school. I want to go back as well. I hope the border situation calms down soon, so I can return to class," said a girl named Rassika.
"If they return home, they can do laundry or collect things, but they can't sleep there yet. Because we don't know if any emergency would happen. The situation is still unstable. A ceasefire agreement [has been signed], but we're not fully reassured," said Wassawa, a volunteer at the shelter.
The Office of the Basic Education Commission of Thailand said schools within 40 kilometers of the border remain shut until safety can be fully ensured. More than 900 schools in Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram provinces remain closed.
Authorities plan to provide online or flexible learning options to ensure that students' education continues.
On July 24, armed clashes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia. The two countries agreed on a ceasefire on July 28, taking effect at the midnight of the same day.
Some schools reopen in Thailand as border tensions with Cambodia ease
Some schools reopen in Thailand as border tensions with Cambodia ease
Some schools reopen in Thailand as border tensions with Cambodia ease
