This is the time that organisations hand out scholarships and bursaries and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Credit Union has made sure that they too have done their part with a total of EC$29,500.{{more}}
Last Tuesday at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown, the Teachers’ Credit Union handed out 18 bursaries to teachers who are pursuing tertiary studies locally and abroad. The hand-outs ranging from EC$600 to EC$4000 were given to student teachers, some of whom had already left for school and therefore sent representatives to collect their cheques.
Manager at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Credit Union Julian Jack said the presentations were made to members of the union “whom we felt it is important to give some assistance”.
Jack said that the Teachers’ Credit Union is always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for its members. “We have for four years now recognised that there is a need to assist teachers in their education”, said Jack.
“We are discovering that our teachers needed help with their studies at university level” said Jack who also pointed to areas such as accommodation, university fees and travel as being hard on the teachers’ pocket.
The Teachers’ Credit Union started their bursary programme four years ago. During the first year of the programme, two persons were given help. The number then rose to 10 persons in the second year. In year three, 20 persons applied with 13 persons getting help. This year, 18 out of 29 persons received bursaries.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Teachers’ Credit Union president Curtis King in his first public appearance. King said the fund is designed specifically to provide financial assistance to members who are enrolled in tertiary institutions locally and abroad. He described the Union as a financial institution owned and controlled by its members and which exists to provide a safe convenient place for members to save money among other things.
King said that at one point, the union was once limited to teachers only, “but is now opened to everyone”.
The president’s remarks were followed by two votes of thanks which were given by Olive Allen on behalf of the overseas teachers and John Zan George for the local teachers.