The Auditor General’s Report for 2017 has exposed the inability of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education to put in place sound administrative and financial management policies in the management of the finances of secondary schools across the country.
The report noted that, in spite of several recommendations proffered to the audited schools and vocational institutions, which was brought to the attention of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the reviews done for the year 2017 have shown that the Ministry has done very little to ensure that correction actions are taken to address the issues raised.
Schools, the report went on, still continue to have issues around non-submission of documents for audit inspection; inadequate control over revenue and receipts; non-preparation of monthly bank reconciliation documents and the non-adherence to disbursement procedures and poor fixed assets management, amongst others.
The 2017 audit report focused on evaluating the adequacy of internal controls in the collection of fees and on expenditure from those sums, which served as a platform for effective school operations as well as procedures.
The findings from schools audited have clearly shown a pattern indicative that applicable laws, policies and regulations have not been complied with in the management of the finances of the schools.
With this state of affairs many Sierra Leoneans are worried that if schools, under the past budget, could not exercise effective financial controls measures what could happen now when the sector is receiving a huge chunk of the nation’s resources?
The 2017 Audit Report has however urged the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education to review the prevailing administrative and financial malaise in the school system with a view to take corrective actions so as to enhance improvement, especially in the secondary sector as Government is spending huge chunks of money in the sector.