Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said Wednesday that the government will raise the basic salary of teachers to about $160 early next year and to $250 by 2018.
Speaking at Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh to announce a $46.5 million grant from the European Union to promote education reform, Mr. Chuon Naron said that part of the reform program would be to ensure teachers are sufficiently paid to avoid them having to accept bribes to supplement their salaries.
“The re-increase of the salary will be conducted this coming May from 550,000 riel [about $137.50] to a minimum salary of 650,000 riel [about $162.50]. This is the policy for 2015,” Mr. Chuon Naron said.
“For 2018, the government is committed to increasing the minimum salary to at least one million riel [about $250],” he added.
Currently, teachers earn a minimum basic salary of $105 but Prime Minister Hun Sen in August had already announced an increase to about $137.50 in April.
