30 September 2007By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
On Sunday, opposition leader Sam Rainsy accused the Cambodian government of failing to raise the quality of education, of causing several tens of thousands of students who graduated from schools but are unable to find jobs, of the lack of several thousands of school facilities, and of the low quality of education.
These criticisms and accusations raised by the opposition leader took place during his meeting with 500 teachers’ representatives coming from 24 provinces and municipalities from all over Cambodia, before the start of the upcoming school year.
Sam Rainsy, President of the Sam Rainsy Party which is the largest opposition party in Cambodia, said: “A thousand schools must be built each year. Secondly, there must be 10,000 teacher positions created each year. If there is a lack of schools and teachers, and there is no place to study, this means that a large number of children, in particular the children of the poor living in the countryside, who are not able to study.”
He also raised the fact that about 300,000 students, after completing their study, are currently facing joblessness. Cambodia needs 10,000 additional teachers each year because, currently, there are only 80,000 teachers in all of Cambodia.
He also criticized the fact that the Cambodian youths are being corrupted by gambling and betting with the CamboSix betting Company, a large number of the Cambodian youths are involved in delinquencies, and they would spend time in karaoke bar rather than studying. Sam Rainsy blamed all these issues on the weak education and corrupt education system.
In reaction to the accusation above, regarding the lack of school facilities and teachers, Khieu Kanharith, spokesman of the government, criticized back by saying: “Sam Rainsy has a lot money, why doesn’t he help build schools? For teachers, we must think about what he said: we need 10,000 (additional) teachers each year? He is mixed up, he does not know about the Cambodian population yearly increase, how many are born each year. As for me, …, the youth nowadays, they are extremely good, they understand a lot.”
A teachers’ representative from Bak Touk elementary school in Phnom Penh city, criticized the low salary paid to teachers, and they also faced with pay cut as well. “After we receive out pay, they would cut it, we don’t know what they cut for, they cut for teacher housing, and who knows what else? Our salary is very low to start with, and they cut it on top of that.”
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), said that, currently, there is a large need of schools in the countryside, and there is a severe shortage of teachers also. Classes are very crowded, and this affects the quality of education for students.
Rong Chhun also complained that, currently, there are only about 90,000 teachers for the entire country, whereas, the increase in the number of students is not on par with the number of teachers. He also said that teachers receive only 110,000 riels (~$27.50) in monthly salary, this is substandard salary when compared to the price increase of goods.
These criticisms and accusations raised by the opposition leader took place during his meeting with 500 teachers’ representatives coming from 24 provinces and municipalities from all over Cambodia, before the start of the upcoming school year.
Sam Rainsy, President of the Sam Rainsy Party which is the largest opposition party in Cambodia, said: “A thousand schools must be built each year. Secondly, there must be 10,000 teacher positions created each year. If there is a lack of schools and teachers, and there is no place to study, this means that a large number of children, in particular the children of the poor living in the countryside, who are not able to study.”
He also raised the fact that about 300,000 students, after completing their study, are currently facing joblessness. Cambodia needs 10,000 additional teachers each year because, currently, there are only 80,000 teachers in all of Cambodia.
He also criticized the fact that the Cambodian youths are being corrupted by gambling and betting with the CamboSix betting Company, a large number of the Cambodian youths are involved in delinquencies, and they would spend time in karaoke bar rather than studying. Sam Rainsy blamed all these issues on the weak education and corrupt education system.
In reaction to the accusation above, regarding the lack of school facilities and teachers, Khieu Kanharith, spokesman of the government, criticized back by saying: “Sam Rainsy has a lot money, why doesn’t he help build schools? For teachers, we must think about what he said: we need 10,000 (additional) teachers each year? He is mixed up, he does not know about the Cambodian population yearly increase, how many are born each year. As for me, …, the youth nowadays, they are extremely good, they understand a lot.”
A teachers’ representative from Bak Touk elementary school in Phnom Penh city, criticized the low salary paid to teachers, and they also faced with pay cut as well. “After we receive out pay, they would cut it, we don’t know what they cut for, they cut for teacher housing, and who knows what else? Our salary is very low to start with, and they cut it on top of that.”
Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA), said that, currently, there is a large need of schools in the countryside, and there is a severe shortage of teachers also. Classes are very crowded, and this affects the quality of education for students.
Rong Chhun also complained that, currently, there are only about 90,000 teachers for the entire country, whereas, the increase in the number of students is not on par with the number of teachers. He also said that teachers receive only 110,000 riels (~$27.50) in monthly salary, this is substandard salary when compared to the price increase of goods.
