Some classrooms for Vietnamese-origin and Cambodian children on Tonle Sap Lake in Koh Ka Ek hamlet of Reang Til commune, Kandieng district, Pursat province. VNA/VNS Photo

 PHNOM PENH – A delegation of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Battambang province and the Việt Nam - Cambodia Business Association (VCBA) has made a fact-finding trip of some floating classrooms for Vietnamese-origin students on Tonle Sap Lake in Pursat province to help with infrastructure upgrade.

The fact-finding trip from September 19 to 21, led by Consul General Nguyễn Thành Văn and VCBA Chairman Oknha Leng Rithy, aimed to serve the building of a support programme for classroom repair and upgrade as proposed by the Pursat branch of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association.

Visiting some floating classrooms in Kandieng and Krakor districts of Pursat, a northwestern province of Cambodia, Văn said the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always view overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of the nation, and have paid constant attention to the Vietnamese-origin community in Cambodia.

He asked the Vietnamese-origin residents on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia, to comply with local law and not to break rules, especially the annual ban on illegal fishing. He also called on them to exert efforts to integrate into the Cambodian society, thereby improving their life quality and contributing to the two countries’ relations.

With regard to classroom repair and upgrade, the diplomat underlined the priority for education so that Vietnamese-origin children can secure a better life in the future.      

Particularly, he suggested them enroll their children in public schools of Cambodia in order for the children to fulfill the host country’s general education programme, acquire certificates, and make decisions on their careers.

The delegation will consider assistance for upgrading the classrooms in need within the VCBA’s capacity, Van added.

During the trip, VCBA representatives also had a working session with the Vietnamese Consulate General to discuss measures for assisting needy Vietnamese-origin residents on Tonle Sap Lake, including support for education, to help improve the quality of human resources and life and develop a strong Vietnamese-origin community in Cambodia.

Vietnamese-origin people in Pursat province have difficult living conditions. The majority of them reside on Tonle Sap Lake and depend on fishing for their livelihood, according to the Vietnamese Consulate General in Battambang province. VNS