The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport recently presented the “Samdech Techo Hun Sen” award to 18 recipients at schools across the country.

The award recognises the achievements of highly rated principals, teachers, and schools which implemented ideal hygiene standards.

A ministry press release received by The Post on Tuesday said three principals from Battambang, Svay Rieng and Kampot provinces received the award.

It was given to teachers from Kampong Cham, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Siem Reap, Kampot, Pursat, Takeo and Prey Veng provinces as well as Phnom Penh.

The schools which won the award for hygiene standards were located in Svay Rieng, Oddar Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham provinces.

Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha said on Tuesday that the awards are handed out annually to encourage teachers and principals to fulfil their duty to help society and develop human resources.

He said the committee in charge of evaluation had consistently, transparently and fairly judged teachers in Cambodia.

Soveacha said: “Every year, we hold events on the occasion of our annual conference. But this year, we cannot gather because we need to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“So we distributed them on an individual basis. We also took the opportunity to monitor teachers’ online teaching.”

Kampong Cham provincial director of the Department of Education Ly Mengsan said on Tuesday that teachers in the province once again received more awards than teachers from elsewhere.

He said winners in the province included three general teachers, four Khmer teachers and three mathematic teachers. “This success is a result of their effort and the efficiency of the leadership,” he said.

Norn Dary, a sixth-grade teacher at Quach Mengly Tuol Beng primary school in the province’s Kampong Siem district won the best teacher award.

“I will continue to do my best for Cambodia. Especially during this time of Covid-19, I have been monitoring my students’ studies because learning from home can be hard.

“Some children avoid learning and some are not able to study, so I have to encourage them,” Dary said.