Dept talks with banks to provide loans for teachers

THE Education Department is talking to banks and finance companies how they can provide loans to teachers for education, travel and family needs.
Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra said department officials met with the banks on Tuesday to find ways of helping teachers get loans.
There is currently a ban on teachers obtaining loans and having deductions from their pay, following an extensive abuse of the system.
Teaching Service Commission chairman Baran Sori said earlier they knew the problems they had faced and which must not be repeated.
“We are discussing it seriously to ensure we don’t repeat issues like over deductions, people taking loans using other people’s names and unnecessary pay cuts,” he said.
“We would be having further discussions with the registered financial companies to allow teachers take new loans.
“But that does not apply or affect teachers who already took loans. This is for those who are new and need loans for school fees, travel and other personal needs.”
Kombra stopped the loan system after it was discovered that some teachers had obtained loans from various sources and had deductions from their pay without following procedures.
Some obtained loans which were deducted from another teacher’s pay.
“The deductions ranged from K10 to K400. Most of these teachers are from the remote areas who do not have access to some of the finance companies. They were surprised to see their pay was being deducted for the loans they (allegedly) took.”