Pursat provincial teachers have accused a Pursat town primary school principal of taking money from a government fund that provides money for tuition and education materials.
The teachers, all members of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, also accused the principal, Nhov Saroeum, of taking bribes from newly hired teachers who wanted to avoid postings in remote locations.
Hoeun Sok Phal, one of four teachers who made complaints against Nhov Saroeum, said the school head took bribes ranging from $40 to $100.
The teacher also said the principal asked her to buy school materials, but when she bought the materials, the principal placed a sign on them saying that they were paid for with money from the government’s Priority Action Plan.
Hoeun Sok Phal also said that Nhov Saroeum requested that she pay 15,000 riel (about $3.84), twice a year, to go toward construction of a new school building, but no construction has taken place.
She added that the principal taxed the students 100 riel for each visit to the school library and asked for 8,000 riel (about $2.05) from teachers he claimed were making money on the side from tutoring students during off-hours.
Nhov Saroeum could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but the school’s deputy principal, Lim Vysal, denied the accusations. She suggested that Hoeun Sok Phal made the accusations because she was fired from her teaching position at the school.
Cambodian Independent Teachers Association Director Rong Chum said he has complained several times to the Ministry of Education, but does not expect a resolution.
Pursat Provincial Director of Education Theam Lim Ieng said that the PAP has never received complaints about the principal’s misdeeds.
“If they have evidence to prove that the principal is corrupt then I will solve the problem because I don’t like corruption,” he said.
Ministry of Education Inspector General Ly Somony said he has not received a formal complaint regarding the principal.
