STUDENTS of Elton International School in Kampong Cham province filed a police complaint against the Korean language institute yesterday, claiming it had cheated them out of money.

About 50 students also protested at the school chain’s branch in Kampong Cham town, saying it had failed to get them jobs in South Korea or pay the US$1,500 scholarships promised to each student.

“We are poor and we want to study so we can find a job to support our families,” 18-year-old student Pich Lida said.

The school had promised students scholarships would be paid to them after one week of study and that they would receive jobs in Korea after two or three months, students said. However, none of the 50 students at the school’s Kampong Cham branch received scholarships or jobs, despite paying $150 registration fees, they said.

“I have studied one month already,” 27-year-old Bun Thearith said. “I received nothing, so I decided to protest and file a complaint to the provincial police about the school cheating me out of money.”

Provincial police chief Chhay Kimson said his officers were investigating. He said he would go on provincial radio to warn people “to stop believing the school because they cheat villagers to get money and do not provide jobs as they promised”.

Elton International could not be reached for comment.