MUHANGA- The Muhanga branch of the Umwalimu Teachers Savings and Credit Scheme is struggling to recover close to Rwf150 million loaned out to teachers, officials said.

"This money was loaned to 60 teachers in Kamonyi and Muhanga districts in 2008 but most of them either disappeared or changed their careers,” Pacifique Rugambwa, the area Sacco manager said.

Rugambwa disclosed this during celebrations to mark the Teacher’s Day held in Nyamabuye Sector, yesterday.

The event was marked under the theme: "Role of Teachers in Profound Education and Fighting Drug Abuse in Schools.”

Rugambwa said that the outstanding unpaid loans have affected the allocation of more loans. He, however, disclosed that the sacco is following up the defaulters with the help of the two district authorities.

He asked teachers to advise their colleagues to repay the loans so as to promote the activities of the scheme.

The Teachers’ Day was celebrated with a volleyball match between primary school and secondary school teachers in the area.

The best primary school and secondary school were also recognised.

Secondary school teachers won by three sets to two, while St. Augustine Primary and St. Leo secondary were awarded certificates of excellence in the 2010 national examinations.

Some of the challenges identified by the teachers included failure to amend some teachers’ salary scales, unpaid arrears and lack of funds for study tours and training.

"Some of the teachers’ achievements over the past months has been focused on promoting a profound education system, improving teachers’ welfare through creating cooperatives and evaluation of performances in schools” Joseph Nsengimana, a teachers’ representative said.

District officials asked the teachers to uphold values of education, set high targets of excellence and work hard at fighting drug abuse and misconduct among students.

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