Students protest on behalf of teachers in capital

Students protest on behalf of teachers in capital

Tue, 2 February 2016 ppp

Sen David

Students protest outside Toul Ampel Secondary School yesterday in Phnom Penh after three teachers were dismissed. Photo supplied

More than 100 students joined by several teachers from Toul Ampel High School in the capital’s Dangkor district protested in front of the school yesterday, accusing the school director of corruption and demanding the reinstatement of three teachers that had been transferred to another school.

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Education yesterday, signed by five teachers representing the demonstrators, allegations were levelled against school director Keo Teng of transferring three teachers after they accused him of pocketing 17 million riel (about $4,200) from the school budget.

Chea Bun Then, a teacher whose students joined him in protest, said Teng “changed three teachers to teach at another school without [stating] a reason”.

Teng, however, denied the allegations in an interview yesterday.

“I do not like being accused of budget corruption. The Ministry of Education also confirms that I am in the right,” he said, adding that the transfer of teachers was an “upper-level decision” and therefore beyond his control.

“Please teachers, come back to teach,” he added.

Chea Chiet, a Ministry of Education representative who arrived at the scene yesterday, said he would look into the matter.