Education News
Loan enables non-State Undergraduates to teach as well- MoHE
View(s):The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has sought clearance from the Treasury for a scheme where GCE (Advanced Level) qualified persons will be employed as teachers, while pursuing a Degree, said MoE Additional Secretary (Administration), P.G. Jayasinghe. The scheme was proposed earlier, but the MoHE has sought approval only now, with the objective of implementing it this year.
Mr Jayasinghe said that, the opportunity is for those to gain employment as teachers in difficult areas, through this scheme, while following a Degree programme with a govt-approved loan. Mr Jayasinghe explained they will have the opportunity to obtain a loan to complete their studies in a non-State university, but will have to work in a difficult area for 10 years.
Under this programme, if they complete the service period of 10 years, they will not be required to pay back the loan. If they choose to quit teaching before 10 years, they will have to repay the loan with interest. The MoHE estimates 5,000 teaching opportunities will be provided under this scheme, and were awaiting final approval from the Treasury.
The programme will also provide a solution to the shortage of teachers. Earlier, the Ministry found that, by June 2016, there was an overall net deficit of 22,533 teachers in schools islandwide, and a net excess of 1,234 in National schools. – Damith Wickremasekara