DTEF debtors off the hook
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 24, 2016 18:00
This is despite many years of the ministry announcing through its Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) that they are making strides, assuring the nation that all those who have benefited from the education fund will pay their dues.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday, Mooko said according to their records, they are owed P2.4 billion. “I have to concede that we failed the nation. We have a problem with our records, a lot of people are likely to get away without paying while a good number will pay less or even more than what is due,” he said.
PAC member, Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked Mooko what was being done to recover the money citing an example of a friend who had gone to the ministry in an attempt to have DTEF deduct what they spent to educate them, but was told records were missing and that they would look for them.
“Before the 2014 elections, I went to DTEF seeking means of paying back my loan, I was presented with my file, which to my surprise showed that I owed only P80,000.
They told me they would call me so I could sign for a debit order, but to date they never called me,“ another member, Biggie Butale said.
Mooko, however, said those likely to get away with it are those from far back as they have been working on improving their record management.
Mooko further stated that even though there are issues including those before the courts, which will delay privatisation of tertiary education financing through HRDC, Mooko said it is the ultimate solution to the whole mess. Mooko had also told PAC that there was need to have specific money allocated to basic education and that it would also help if parents who could afford to do so, help government by paying for their children’s tertiary education.
With only five days in office, Mooko said his three priorities for improving the state of education would be increased resourcing, commitment by parents and facilitation for teachers as they need to be at par with the ever-changing syllabi and new teaching methods.