Teachers across the country will go on a 15-day strike beginning on February 1 if

the government refuses to meet their pay demands. Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian

Independent Teachers Association (CITA), said corruption and bribery among teachers

was rife because the government refused to pay them a living wage. The average salary

for a teacher is $25 a month. He demanded a raise to $100 a month, or nearly 100,000

teachers across the country would bring the education system to a standstill. "Our

teachers have enough ability to improve the quality of education," he said,

"but the government does not have enough ability to improve the living condition

of the people."