Jamaica Teacher's Association launched the Teachers' Registration Program and the Teachers' Professional Development Loan Fund. The loan, which is aimed at promoting professional development for the island's more than 17,000 teachers who are without a first degree, is to take effect June 1.
Montego Bay, Jamaica (PRWEB) May 24, 2007 -- the much anticipated $500 million dollar revolving loan has been in the works for months since its first announcement. The period of waiting had until this point, resulted in the deregistration of scores of educators in tertiary schools for lack of fee payments.
The launch of the loan fund was held at the Hilton in Montego Bay. "We have had some difficulties over the period but today I can say, 'finally'," said Hopeton Henry, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), while addressing the gathering at the launch, held at the Hilton hotel, Montego Bay.
The proposal for the loan fund was first brought up in 2005 to implement the $500 million plan to upgrade the qualifications of the island's teachers who are without a first degree. Since then, the JTA was promised the fund on three separate occasions, but to no avail. "I am excited about the possibilities for this and anticipate the great impact that this will have in our quest to improve teaching and learning in Jamaica," said Maxine Henry-Wilson, Education Minister. "The launch of the revolving loan fund will go a far way in providing much-needed financial support to teachers."
Loans from the fund are provided for courses leading to a Bachelor's degree in Education. It is required that teachers be employed in a public education institution and permanently employed by Ministry of Education and Youth. Should this program prove successful, it is expected to hit other parts of Jamaica as well, such as Negril; which is also facing difficulties in education. Soon, loans will be given to those in the service industry to help those in need. Hotels in Negril are hopeful in the disbursement of these loans. Working with those pushing towards food service education loans is negril-hotels.com.
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