Regional News of Monday, 20 June 2005

Source: GNA

Call for establishment of teachers bank

Kade (E/R), June 20, GNA - An educationist has called for the establishment of a teachers' bank which could help improve teachers' well-being.

The Headmaster of the Asuom Secondary School, Mr P.T. Amponsah, who made the call urged teachers to take advantage of the liberal economic conditions the country was enjoying to establish the bank. He said many banks were making huge profits out of teachers by granting them credit facilities with high interest rates.

Speaking at the opening of the Second Quadrennial and Sixth Delegates Conference of the Kwaebibirem District branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), at Kade, on Monday, Mr Amponsah felt a teachers' bank could grant loans to teachers with a "human face by cutting down lending rates to the barest minimum". He noted that such a bank would also enable teachers acquire landed property and educate their children without being humiliated by money lenders.

Mr Amponsah observed that the financial comfort of teachers would enable them to perform better.

"The teacher will be respected and the image of the teachers' organization improved with the betterment of the financial position to attract more brains into the profession."