Extra Fees Make for Extra Woes in Phnom Penh Schools

As a new school year begins, poor families face the added burden of giving money toward the op­erating expenses of their schools.

Heng Phirum, a 41-year-old mother of four, said she had borrowed 50,000 riel from a neighbor so she could buy sweet po­tatoes to sell in her Daun Penh district stall. But she ended up giving the money to her children for school.

Her son, Chum Nar­un, an 11th-grader at Sisowath High School, said he was asked for a contribution fee for expenses in addition to a 2,000 riel application fee. In addition, he said, he also had to pay 500 riel to nine different teachers for sets of lesson papers.

“My son feels ashamed to ask for mercy at a school where lots of rich people attend,” Heng Phirum said.

Seng Lime, director of Siso­wath High School, conceded that teachers were charging for lesson papers, but he expressed sympathy for educators, who make 80,000 riel each month.

“I have raised the issue [of charging] with the teachers many times,” he said. “But they did not like my ideas. It is difficult to control those who are not well-fed. The teachers said they would not do it if they were well-fed.”

Chet Yam, director of Toul Tumpong High School, said his school needs from 4,000 riel to 5,500 riel per student in order to pay for building maintenance and programs, and his school gives the city Education Depart­ment 100 riel per student to help pay for sports and arts competitions.

“We also face the high cost of water and electricity,” Chet Yam said. “We stopped using state water nearly a year ago. We dug our own well. We use electricity very economically. We use the electric fans very little.”

Chet Yam said the school also holds a Solidarity Festival with families of students, where he said that money goes to such projects as fixing the roof and sewers, mending fences, and buying fill dirt for the school yard.

“We do not take money from poor students and orphans,” Chet Yam said.

He said replacing old furniture alone is a huge expense. “We have to buy around 100 new tables a year, in addition to the dozens we fix….One table costs around 10,000 riel.”

Chey Chap, Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of Edu­cation, said a Priority Action Program is under way in Prey Veng, Kandal, Kompong Speu, Svay Rieng, Kompong Chhnang, Kratie, Ratanakkiri, Koh Kong and Kep. It is designed to keep students in school who would otherwise drop out due to the expense.

According UN Population Fund figures, in a world survey of population issues, only 51 percent of Cambo­dian male students and 46 percent of females make it to the fifth grade.

 

 

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