Gov’t Rejects CITA’s Teacher Salary Proposal

Written by DAP NEWS -- Tuesday, 06 October 2009

(Post by CAAI News Media)

Cambodian Cabinet officials on Monday rejected at a press conference the demands for increased salaries for all teachers in Cambodia made by the by Cambodian Indepen- dent Teachers’ Association (CITA).

Director of Department of Council Cabinet Administrative Reform Ngov Hongly said that the ongoing downturn means Cambodia “cannot increase the salary of all Cambodian teachers … because they have no funds for … US$ 250 a person per month.” “Rong Chhon has no basis for his suggestion”, Ngov Hongly said of the CITA chairman.

The Government has already raised salaries from only US$19.5 per month in 2001, and increased them again this year, he noted. Over 150 teachers from various provinces and Phnom Penh in October joined the fifth CITA Anniversary, asking for a monthly salary of US$ 250. CITA had planned a gathering in front of the old National Assembly building but authorities denied permission, apparently because the Government was “busy in some delegation to visit.” Celebrations were held at CITA head office, a gathering which still attracted a modest police presence. “All teachers are afraid when they act like this,” Rong Chhon said.

Union leader Chea Mony said teachers should have been allowed to demonstrate as their salary is not enough to meet even basic needs.

“We ask that each teacher be paid US$250 a month,” Mony said.

Seng Theary, an outspoken social activist, complained that the Cam-bodian Government sent forces to threaten participants, adding that she supports the requesting to increase salaries to US$250 a month.

But the Cambodian Government’s meager increase of US$2.50 to teach on Thursday, a school holiday in Cambodia, is enough, Thoung Borann of the Human Resource Administra-tive of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports said. “It is opposite to the past; this is the pride of the Cambo-dian Government to focus on the educational sect or.”