Teaching college staff fear school land sale

The Phnom Penh Post
Khuon Leakhana and Mom Kunthear

STAFF at the provincial teacher training college in Takeo province have sent a letter to the Ministry of Education seeking clarification about the status of a pond on the college grounds that they fear has been sold off without their consultation.

Buth Nol, 26, a teaching instructor at the college, said that the staff wanted clarification about the status of the pond, which is currently being filled.

"The prime minister has ordered that no one can sell or exchange public property such as school land," he said. "[We] just want the provincial governor or the director of the education department to stop the landfill and tell us the reason for [it]."

He added that the staff have planned protests to stop the filling if authorities do not give them a convincing reason.

Kong Pov, director of the college, said that the filling of the pond began a month ago, but that he had never been told by local authorities about the reason for the activity.

"I think it is a mistake to do this without informing me," he said, adding that the workers may have the backing of the provincial governor.

When contacted on Wednesday, Takeo Governor Srey Ben said he did not wish to speak over the phone.