More than 20 teachers in Kompong Cham province’s Tonle Bet secondary school went on strike Monday, protesting against the provincial education department’s nominee for school vice president, the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association said.
“The teachers want to vote for who they want. They do not want to have the educational department nominate a vice president for them,” said Rong Chhun, president of the teachers group.
Seng Theary, a Tonle Bet secondary school teacher, said 28 of the 40 teachers from the school took part in the strike to petition education department officials to remove second deputy director Leang Sovanny from his position.
Leang Sovanny “always adopts school-planning measures without consulting the teachers,” Seng Theary said Monday.
Leang Sovanny was deputy director of Ponhea Krek district’s secondary school until he was transferred to the post of second deputy director of Tbong Khmum district’s Tonle Bet secondary school. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
Huot Nun, Kompong Cham’s education department director, said Monday morning that there was no strike at Tonle Bet secondary school and that teachers simply gathered to speak. He declined to elaborate on the subject of the teachers’ conversation.
“Those saying teachers went on strike are absolutely mistaken,” Huot Nun said. “Nothing of the sort happened at Tonle Bet secondary school on Monday morning.”
He said it is unacceptable for the teachers to stage strikes against the education department. “Teachers have the duty to teach students, not organize strikes,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, two complaints filed by the teachers last year calling for Leang Sovanny’s removal.
Seng Theary said the education department promised to remove Leang Sovanny but never took action. “I will continue my strike until the education department acts on our suggestion,” Seng Theary said.
“Leang Sovanny should be a member of the staff at the school, but not the second deputy director or the vice president.”
More than 900 students study at Tonle Bet secondary school from grades seven through nine.
