By Jayakhmer
Op-Ed posted online
A recent Phnom Penh Post article published by Asia Times described the relationship of the members of the powerhouses in Cambodia. I have to confess that I was a bit dizzy just to follow the labyrinth of connections between the members of those families. I could not help but think about the next generation. No, I am not worry about the next generation of the top leaders of the ruling party. They are rich and have everything. Sorry, let me take it back. Yes, I am worried. I hope that they are educated. If not we are in yet another interesting era.
What I am truly concerned about is the future of the next generation especially of those who are in the middle or the bottom of the totem pole. To this extent, one issue sticks out like a sore thumb. The future of our next generation ties directly to the quality of education that is being offered. When we are talking about education in Cambodia, we cannot ignore the condition under which those who bear the responsibility to educate our young ones. I am talking about the thousands of teachers in Cambodia who are dedicated and love their profession and simultaneously cannot live their lives in dignity with government's salary.
Let me say this up front. Rebuilding an education system after three decade of conflict that killed off most of our educated people is not an easy task. Having stated that, I also want to say that ignoring today's teacher is ignoring our future. Continuing the path the royal government of Cambodia is going with the way teachers are treated is dangerous and immoral.
How much did Cambodia spend on teacher salaries?
According to the Ministry of Economic and Finance, projected Cambodia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be $6,993.17 millions and GDP per capita is estimated to be $487.00 for 2007.
The 2006 UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimated that Cambodia spent about a half percent of GDP per capita on teachers' salaries. At a half percent of GDP per capita which $2.44 and the population of 14,363,519, this is my estimate, Cambodia will spend approximately $35,046,986.00 on teachers' salaries. This means with a national budget of about $1,100.00 millions for 2007, the RGC spends a pathetic 0.032% of the national budget on teachers' salaries.
All of these numbers only make sense if the members of the RGC are as poor as the teachers. While I am not implied that all members of government who are wealthy are corrupted, it is very hard to draw any reasonable explanations otherwise. The inequity is very obvious.
Based on the numbers of school are being built by some high profile members of the government, it is indicative that they value education. However, building school without properly fund the teachers who teach in those schools is like buying cars without the engines.
The NGOs are helping Cambodia to build a modern educational system. It is time for Cambodian government and its leaders to step up to the plate by increasing the salaries for the teachers because not doing so will be devastated and undemocratic.
Cambodia will be devastated because without proper education Cambodia will not have educated workforce to compete with its neighbors. It is undemocratic because only the rich will be able to afford their children with good education while the poor cannot. The gap between the have and the have-not will be widened. That is a formula for a dangerous Cambodia.
Paying teachers with a living wage so they can live in dignity and educate our posterity will be the best and cheapest investments the Cambodia will ever made.
Jay
What I am truly concerned about is the future of the next generation especially of those who are in the middle or the bottom of the totem pole. To this extent, one issue sticks out like a sore thumb. The future of our next generation ties directly to the quality of education that is being offered. When we are talking about education in Cambodia, we cannot ignore the condition under which those who bear the responsibility to educate our young ones. I am talking about the thousands of teachers in Cambodia who are dedicated and love their profession and simultaneously cannot live their lives in dignity with government's salary.
Let me say this up front. Rebuilding an education system after three decade of conflict that killed off most of our educated people is not an easy task. Having stated that, I also want to say that ignoring today's teacher is ignoring our future. Continuing the path the royal government of Cambodia is going with the way teachers are treated is dangerous and immoral.
How much did Cambodia spend on teacher salaries?
According to the Ministry of Economic and Finance, projected Cambodia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be $6,993.17 millions and GDP per capita is estimated to be $487.00 for 2007.
The 2006 UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimated that Cambodia spent about a half percent of GDP per capita on teachers' salaries. At a half percent of GDP per capita which $2.44 and the population of 14,363,519, this is my estimate, Cambodia will spend approximately $35,046,986.00 on teachers' salaries. This means with a national budget of about $1,100.00 millions for 2007, the RGC spends a pathetic 0.032% of the national budget on teachers' salaries.
All of these numbers only make sense if the members of the RGC are as poor as the teachers. While I am not implied that all members of government who are wealthy are corrupted, it is very hard to draw any reasonable explanations otherwise. The inequity is very obvious.
Based on the numbers of school are being built by some high profile members of the government, it is indicative that they value education. However, building school without properly fund the teachers who teach in those schools is like buying cars without the engines.
The NGOs are helping Cambodia to build a modern educational system. It is time for Cambodian government and its leaders to step up to the plate by increasing the salaries for the teachers because not doing so will be devastated and undemocratic.
Cambodia will be devastated because without proper education Cambodia will not have educated workforce to compete with its neighbors. It is undemocratic because only the rich will be able to afford their children with good education while the poor cannot. The gap between the have and the have-not will be widened. That is a formula for a dangerous Cambodia.
Paying teachers with a living wage so they can live in dignity and educate our posterity will be the best and cheapest investments the Cambodia will ever made.
Jay
3 comments:
Thank you very much for this great article.
YOuths are important for Cambodia, but according teacher's low salary and lack of paying attenting from government, we can assume that government has intention not want Cambodian youths can upgrade themselves.
Low investing of giving salary to teacher is not Hun Sen's vision. But building schools with HS or Hun Sen brandname is his priority.
What is a history of Cambodia comments with such notorous brandnames of Hun Sen in each school, temple, public parks and road?
Hun Sen might have answer in his mind when his power has been confascicated.
0.032% for teacher's salary is a curse, propensity, vulgar and damnation to the most important people of Cambodian nation.
The destruction of Cambodia educational system will be AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave former Khmer Rouge legacy!!!!
The next Cambodian generation will remember how this fucken bastard destroy their future and how Cambodia became such a dangerous place to live!!!
Hun Sen regime in Phnom Penh is by Yuon, for YUON.....so don't dream for a minute that it will aim at educating Khmer. If it was, it's just our daydreams. How many times a year, a month, have those officials in the government been sent to learn Viet and endoctrinated by the Viet either in Hanoi or in Saigon??? Ask those of our friends and relatives in Phnom Penh!!!
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