Teachers union slams excessive exam fees

Phak Seangly

Phnom Penh Post

THE Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA) on Monday accused administrators at a Svay Rieng province high school of charging excessively high exam fees, after some students reported paying as much as 10,500 riels (about US$2.50) to complete their exam applications.

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, CITA said the Krol Kor Hun Sen high school’s administrative board had demanded that all students sitting for exams pay the fees, adding that they should only come to about 3,000 riels for the entire process.

The letter states that the school board demanded that the students pay 4,500 riels, as well as 6,000 riels for accompanying photos, which are submitted with application forms.

Huy Mead, a 12th-grade maths teacher, also complained that students were required by the school board in some instances to spend 25,000 riels to have Grade 9 certificates endorsed at Svay Rieng provincial hall. Students need certificates endorsed by provincial authorities in order to apply for their Grade 12 certificates.

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