THE Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene in a dispute between the University of Health Science and 1,000 first-year students who claim the school is unfairly preventing them from continuing their studies.

The students, who have been protesting since September 10, claim that the university has cheated them, as only 850 of some 2,000 students will be allowed back for second year following exams in August.

The university maintains that the students failed their exams, though it has not released exam results. In a letter to Hun Sen, CITA requested that the university admit 70 percent of the students into the second-year programme, and that remaining students be able to repeat their first year’s courses.

CITA President Rong Chhun said the university should exceed its usual admission quota this year to compensate the protesting students.