Education ministry to hold Buddhist event on Valentine’s
THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will mark this year’s Valentine’s Day with a presentation to reinforce students’ Buddhist values.
Ministry spokesman Ros Soveacha said the event will be held at the National Institution of Education on February 14. Titled Mental Balance and Buddhism, the presentation will be attended by Venerable Kou Sopheap, a professor at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia, and Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron.
The event will be streamed live on Facebook.
“Most students do not understand the real meaning of this holiday as it relates to Cambodian culture. We want more people to be involved in social work during this day, including donating blood and volunteering. We also want them to meditate,” he said.
On Friday, the ministry issued a statement urging public and private schools to stop students from engaging in indecent activities and improper behaviour during Valentine’s Day.
“Valentine’s day is not a Cambodian cerebration. In the last few years, as it became more popular in Cambodia, many students neglected their studies to engage in activities that shamed them and their families and clashed with Cambodian culture,” it said.
To avoid indecent behaviour among students, the ministry told schools to make a special announcement when students meet to listen to the national anthem and to enforce school regulations strictly.
Deth Sok Udom, the rector of Paragon International University, told The Post that students’ behaviour does not change that much during Valentine’s Day.
“Some students give flowers to their boyfriend or girlfriend, but this is quite normal,” he said.