More than 50 teachers at Samdech Av Secondary School in Preah Sihanouk province have filed a complaint against the provincial authority’s decision to cede land behind the school to community members living nearby for the purpose of widening the road.

However, officials said the project had already been delayed.

“Teachers at Samdech Av Secondary School oppose the road widening project because the school has already offered land for road construction before.

“The current road is six metres in width and does not cause a traffic jam when students enter or leave the school,” said the letter dated September 4 and signed by 53 teachers.

The complaint said the project could affect school buildings and disrupt the students’ studies through noise pollution and eventually result in the loss of public properties.

“Teachers intend to maintain public property that provides knowledge and build human resources for the country. The Preah Sihanouk provincial governor should find a solution,” said the letter.

Provincial education department director Keo Lay said he was just a messenger for the 40-family community behind the school who made the request to provincial governor Yun Min to widen the 420-metre-long road by three metres.

He said after receiving the request, the provincial governor had made him a coordinator to oversee the project, to which the 53 teachers opposed.