The State Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Mathias Harebamungu, yesterday warned teachers against acquiring loans without clear business plans to help improve their lives. He said among other factors, acquiring loans with out considering how it will be put to proper use undermines the real aim for acquiring it.“Do not just come up with cooperatives to get access to loans, but focus at being able to come up with the necessary projects that will not only make you succeed as a teacher, but also uphold the mission and vision of Umwalimu Sacco,” Harebamungu said.He was addressing over 200 teachers at the opening of a five-day training workshop at Lycee de Kigali Secondary School. The training will, among others, equip teachers, with entrepreneurial skills, cooperative management and the general knowledge business.Harebamungu noted that misusing a loan will instead make a teacher’s life more difficult thereby undermining the actual objective the cooperative movement. In 2005, the government initiated Umuwalimu Sacco as one of the measures through which teachers would access loans on affordable interest rate so that they start income generating activities to supplement their salaries.Officials argue that this will improve teachers’ lives as well as enabling them to play an active role in the development of their respective areas and the country in general. 540 to benefitThe training, which is organised by the cooperative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is the first of its kind and organisers are optimistic it will serve its intended purpose.The minister said the government will give more support to the cooperative, pointing out last year’s decision by the cabinet to give Rwf 30 billion to the Umwalimu Sacco in a period spanning ten years.The Managing Director of the Sacco, Joseph Museruka, said the training programme will benefit at least 540 teachers across the country. “We made sure that we get teachers from each sector in the country and our target is to train those who will train others so that the training benefits more teachers,” he said. Umwalimu Sacco can provide up to Rwf 15 million to its members.
