Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post
MEMBERS of a British teachers union expressed dismay at the low salaries of Cambodian teachers during a meeting Tuesday that was part of weeklong conference with the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) set to conclude Friday, participants said.
The conference has brought together members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and 30 teachers from Phnom Penh and Kandal province.
Phuong Viphou, project coordinator at the British embassy and the organiser of the visit, said she was shocked at the discrepancy between teacher pay in the UK and in Cambodia.
“I hope that teachers’ situation will change in the future in terms of salary, and that the teaching profession will be more respected and recognised, too,” she said Tuesday.
CITA President Rong Chhun said teachers working in the UK earn about US$200 per day, whereas their Cambodian counterparts receive about $2 a day.
Phuong Viphou also said that the visiting ATL representatives might be able to push the government to improve teacher pay during their visit to Cambodia.
Asked to comment Wednesday, the British embassy said in a statement: “The UK is not involved in the education reforms of Cambodia. However, we share the government’s aspirations to raise public-sector pay particularly for teachers and health workers. Obviously, this has to be subject to affordability and aligned with public-sector reforms.”
Ngo Hongly, secretary general of the Council for Administrative Reforms at the Council of Ministers, said the government’s policy was to increase teacher pay each year, adding that average salaries had risen from $19.50 in 2001 to $81.50 this year.
The conference has brought together members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and 30 teachers from Phnom Penh and Kandal province.
Phuong Viphou, project coordinator at the British embassy and the organiser of the visit, said she was shocked at the discrepancy between teacher pay in the UK and in Cambodia.
“I hope that teachers’ situation will change in the future in terms of salary, and that the teaching profession will be more respected and recognised, too,” she said Tuesday.
CITA President Rong Chhun said teachers working in the UK earn about US$200 per day, whereas their Cambodian counterparts receive about $2 a day.
Phuong Viphou also said that the visiting ATL representatives might be able to push the government to improve teacher pay during their visit to Cambodia.
Asked to comment Wednesday, the British embassy said in a statement: “The UK is not involved in the education reforms of Cambodia. However, we share the government’s aspirations to raise public-sector pay particularly for teachers and health workers. Obviously, this has to be subject to affordability and aligned with public-sector reforms.”
Ngo Hongly, secretary general of the Council for Administrative Reforms at the Council of Ministers, said the government’s policy was to increase teacher pay each year, adding that average salaries had risen from $19.50 in 2001 to $81.50 this year.
5 comments:
Comment by Khmer Academy in response to a poster reaction on the "Suu Kyi counterpart gets 'offer' from Rangoon" posted on Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
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Dear 2:53PM,
Cool down my friend. You could have a heart attack if you pay too much attention to some of the comments in this blog.
You don't sound like a Khmer national. If that's the case, let me welcome you to the KI blog (I hope KI team don't mind my courtesy).
I am sure you'll find this blog quite interesting. Many Khmer people, young and old, from different continents and walks of life regularly visit this blog. Some are very thoughtful and intelligent with their comments while others are absolutely childish. But that is the kind of mixture that makes this site a rich and interesting place to blog.
Khmer Academy
9:24 PM
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You will be suprice toknow how much ah Kwack children spend in one day!
As long as they spend in the country, it's good for our economy.
1:17Am you stupid head if they buy local product, motherfuckers wont spendthat mutch!
cambodian teacher union can partner and cooperate with the UK counterpart to give strength and moral to help fight teacher's salary equality in cambodia and more. together, they can do to help make all the difference. god bless.
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