BELTEI International School thanked the residents, authorities and others who helped rescue students after a vehicle carrying pupils to its Campus 24 entered a pond in Kandal province on 10 November 2026. In a Khmer-language Facebook statement, the school expressed its gratitude to those who responded, offered condolences to the families of the five students who died and wished the surviving students a recovery.

Who BELTEI International School thanked

The school issued its message on behalf of its leadership, staff, teachers and students. It addressed the people who helped during the rescue, including members of the local community and the authorities. The photographs accompanying the statement show people in the water beside the vehicle and others gathered near the scene.

The message also addressed the students and their families. BELTEI acknowledged the five deaths and expressed its wishes for the 21 students who survived. The school’s message of thanks follows the initial reports about the crash and the subsequent visit by Cambodia’s education minister to students receiving hospital care. Education Cambodia’s report on the hospital visit covers that separate development.

Where the crash happened

The students were travelling to the school’s Prek Ta Mak Bridge branch, known as Campus 24. The vehicle left National Road 8 and entered a pond in Prek Ta Mak commune, Khsach Kandal district. Cambodianess reported that 26 students were on board and that local residents and authorities helped at the scene.

BELTEI Group said the vehicle was privately hired and carried students as well as members of the public. Families reading about the crash may see different terms for the vehicle in news coverage. The ownership and operating arrangement come from BELTEI Group’s account. Education Cambodia’s initial report on the Kandal crash provides more detail on the route and the group’s first statement.

Questions families can ask about student transport

When arranging a regular school journey, parents and guardians can ask who operates the vehicle and who handles communication with families. The answer can depend on whether a school runs the service, contracts an operator or leaves transport arrangements to individual households. Families can ask for the operator’s contact details and find out whether the school keeps a record of students using the service.

It is also worth asking how the operator records who is on board, whether each child has a seat and seat belt, and who calls families if the vehicle fails to arrive. A family whose child travels with a private operator can give both the operator and the school an up-to-date emergency number. If a child’s pickup arrangement changes, confirming it with the adults responsible at each end helps establish who is expecting the child.

Supporting students after a loss

Teachers and school leaders can agree on what information to share with pupils and families and identify a staff contact for students who want to talk privately. Students may have questions about classmates or about travelling to school again. Staff can use clear, age-appropriate language and respect families’ wishes about sharing personal information. Families can also ask whom to contact if their child needs support returning to class.

BELTEI International School used its follow-up statement to thank the people who helped at the pond and to acknowledge the families affected by the crash. Education Cambodia extends its condolences to the bereaved families and wishes the surviving students well in their recovery.

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