THE government will boost the salaries of lecturers at the Royal University of Agriculture, authorities said Sunday, more than a week after protesting students accused school officials of pocketing tuition fees.

Most lecturers at the university will see their salaries more than double, said Chhay Kongkea, the institution’s vice rector.

“Chan Sarun, the agriculture minister, came to settle this problem last week,” Chhay Kongkea said.

Now, doctoral lecturers will be paid US$7 per hour, master’s level lecturers $6 per hour and bachelor’s level lecturers $5. The new rates are more than double the previous hourly rates of $2.23 per hour, he said.

However, questions remain over allegations that school officials were pocketing student tuition fees. Earlier this month, students protested on behalf of their teachers, complaining that some among them had been turned away from classes because their teachers had not been paid.

Sao Sambo, deputy inspector general at the Ministry of Agriculture, said an investigation into the allegedly missing funds is ongoing.