Future Teachers Have Private Dreams
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Author Tiep Seiha
Cambodia will have 532 new teachers this year. That is the number of students who study at the National Institute of Education (NIE). After their 12-month training under the supervision of the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS), they can teach at public high schools. However, some students are already uneasy about this prospect.
Four students, who want to be French teachers, are discussing their future. First year student Gnoung Tharin says, "at first, I thought I would work for a public school, but because of the low income, I now want to work for a private school." Student
Thoeun Pakdey recounts, "a private organization invited me to teach and wants me to start after I graduate. I used to teach at a primary school in Battambang Province and had to wait up to three months for my pay check."
Late payments are the reason why many students want to work for private schools. Mr. Rung Chhun, Director of the
Cambodian Independent Teachers Association says: "Prices of goods and services are constantly rising. A lecturer cannot live on the average salary of 35 Dollars a month. The government is not improving the living standards of civil servants, especially teachers."
"The Teachers Association should not say this," says Mr Thong Borann, Director of the Personnel Department of Mo- EYS. "They should consider the government‘s budget. The teachers‘salary is higher than that of other civil servants."
Because of the low wages some teachers also work at private schools while under contract with the government. History professor Sombo Manara at the Royal University of Phnom Penh explains: "I teach at two private universities. My need is larger than my salary."
Some students are still optimistic. Miss Cheang Kemsou, a future Khmer teacher says, "even though the salary is low now, I like being a public teacher because I gain respect. The salary will rise in the future."
Also, students don’t want to work at remote schools. Mr. Phal Rath, a pedagogy student, says: "I used to teach in Kompong Cham Province, but my house was in Kandal Province. I had to travel far every day. In the future I would like to teach at a private university. The Ministry needs to appreciate us by paying more, providing accommodation, water and energy in isolated areas."
Mr. Thong Borann says, "Water and energy can't be paid. In isolated areas teachers can get an extra 60,000 Riels. The government has raised teachers‘salaries by 25% to July 2007 and by another 20% in early 2008." Salaries for civil servants were increased by 20% before the commune elections in 2007. The Author:Saron Roeun
