148 pupils in one class: Phnom Penh governor tackles overcrowding at primary school

PHNOM PENH - Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng has provided emergency financial support to address the issue of overcrowding at a primary school in the city.

Toul Key Primary School, in Kamboul district’s Phleung Chheh Roteh commune, was squeezing up to 148 pupils into a single classroom, according to concerned parents.

The governor’s support will allow the school’s management to reinstate two contract teachers, alleviating the problem.

Parents gathered outside the school on the morning of Feb 4 to express their concerns.

“Now, where will our children study? More than 100 students in one classroom, all crammed together – how can they learn? How can they even sit?” complained one parent.

“We want the teachers to return to teach the students. They were removed because they didn’t have the funds to pay their salaries. We each want to help support them with 5,000 Cambodian riel (S$1.70) per month,” she added.

After the problem was shared widely on social media, Mr Hem Sinareth, director of the Phnom Penh Department of Education, Youth and Sport, along with local authorities, organised a same-day meeting to resolve the situation.

According to meeting notes, school enrolment is 928 pupils across 13 classes. The overcrowding was especially felt in grades one and two, where a single combined class held 148 pupils.

The school has just eight full-time and three part-time teachers.

The school management team employed two retired teachers on contract for the first three months of the 2024-2025 academic year, and expected the ministries of education and civil service to assign new teachers.

A request for two additional full-time teachers was not approved, with the teachers on contract dismissed and three part-timers assigned instead.

As a result, the school was forced to merge the first- and second-grade classes, resulting in overcrowding that negatively impacted teaching and learning.

Governor Sreng instructed the school to reinstate the two contract teachers, with the assurance that financial support for their monthly salaries would be provided.

The Education Ministry clarified that the overcrowding resulted from the retirement of two teachers, which led to a shortage of teaching staff. As an interim solution, the school merged two grade levels into single classes to ensure that all pupils could continue their education. 

The measure was only temporary until new teachers were hired, it added.

The ministry stated: “At the suggestion of the governor, the school has invited the two retired teachers to temporarily assist until new teachers are assigned. The governor has also arranged financial support for them. The issue has now been resolved, and replacement teachers have been secured.”

The Phnom Penh education department and district administration called for parents and guardians to remain calm and to send their children back to school as usual. THE PNOMH PENH POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK