Teachers owe gov't $410 million

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The Auditor General’s Department annual report is showing that dozens of educators have absconded their financial obligation to the Ministry of Education after receiving funding to upgrade their skills.

Audits of the ministry’s financial records by the department reveal that as at March 31, 2012, 212 teachers owed the Government $410 million because they did not honour their bond agreements.

The audit covers the financial year 2011-2012.

The department said of the 212 teachers who reneged, 114 teachers have never repaid, 74 were inconsistent in their repayments, and 24 were servicing their loans on a monthly basis.

The Auditor General said this issue was raised with the ministry which has since advised that the matter is now with its legal department.

Meanwhile, The Auditor General’s Department report points out that the education ministry has failed to request progress reports from the teachers who were granted study leave.

It noted that because of this failure the department was unable to determine how the ministry satisfied itself that the teachers were pursuing the course of study.

The department said the ministry was advised to ensure that annual progress reports are submitted by teachers on study leave, in accordance with the Education Regulation.

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