Cambodian education departments urged to work with authorities on alcohol-free schools

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport said some public and private schools had not fully implemented guidance banning the use, distribution, display for sale and advertising of alcoholic products on campus. It directed education departments and schools nationwide to cooperate with relevant institutions and authorities at all levels to create alcohol-free educational institutions. Under the guidance, education departments must strictly prohibit all forms of alcohol use, distribution, display for sale and advertising inside schools and in their surrounding areas. Drinking on campus is strictly forbidden. The harms of alcohol consumption should be explained during flag-raising ceremonies, meetings and other school gatherings. Departments and schools must regularly remind students and education staff of the restrictions and incorporate the bans into their internal rules. Each school year, they should explain the requirements to learners and staff and organise educational activities, such as signs, educational messages and drawings against alcohol use, for display inside and around schools. Schools must monitor alcohol use, distribution, sales and advertising inside and around their grounds, take appropriate action and submit half-yearly and annual implementation reports to the ministry. The ministry also noted that most public and private schools had implemented the guidance well. Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television. By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត