Sources have revealed that the Fukuoka City Education Promotion Council, an extra-governmental organization that provides loans to high school and technical school students, borrowed ¥5.4 billion from City Hall last fiscal year to offset the burden of additional loan recipients amid the economic recession. With late payments reaching ¥660 million, the Council has fallen into a pattern of “robbing Peter to pay Paul”—borrowing money from banks to repay its loans to the City at the end of each fiscal year and then borrowing more money from the City to make loans in the next fiscal year. The Education Promotion Council was founded in 1959 and funds about 2,400 high school and technical school students annually to the tune of ¥760 million. Until the recession, the Council used loan repayments to funds its operations, but it has recently found itself relying on loans from City Hall. City Hall is rushing to unveil a plan to reform the administration of its extra-governmental organizations. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Aug. 27
