Latest update January 3rd, 2025 4:30 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Over $52M unaccounted for under school feeding programme – Auditor General

Nov 23, 2018 News

In 2017, the sum of $2.099 billion was allotted for dietary under the Ministry of Education according to the Auditor General’s report. During the period under review, the net allotment transfers from Dietary scheme totaled $48.772M, giving a revised allotment of $2.050 billion.
According to the report, the Appropriation Accounts amounts totaling $1.727B were expended as December 31, 2017 resulting in an unspent sum of $323M. The reasons for the unspent sum are reported earlier under shortfall expenditure. The $1.727B included expenditure for the school feeding programme.
An audit examination was done on the records maintained by eleven schools, which included five and six schools in regions seven and nine respectively.
The report said that the sum of $73.644 M was expended on the programme for eleven schools where 2,189 students benefited from the programme.
However, the Auditor General noted the school could not determine whether the sum of $52.512M received by the eight schools was deposited intact, due to the absence of key documentation including bank statements.
The AG also could not determine whether the monies were properly accounted for with respect to the eleven schools.
The report outlined that bank reconciliation statements were not presented for any of the schools.
“The absence of key control measures can lead to the preparation of wrongdoing without prompt detection. The report also highlighted the absence of supervisory checks, which is a key control, which can point to wrongdoing, prompt detection, and the safeguarding of public funds.
There was no evidence of supervisory checks of cashbooks by the management committee in three schools. Supervisory checks were also absent in the stock ledgers and goods received books for six schools in Region Nine.
Moreover, cash was kept in the personal possession of the treasurer in eight schools. This unsatisfactory situation, it was stated, could lead to wrongdoing.
In response to the findings, the Education Ministry acknowledged the lapse in the system.
The Education Minister noted that school-feeding programme is transitioning from being centrally managed to community management.
“As such, challenges will be encountered. Notwithstanding this, the Ministry will seek to provide the necessary training to avoid recurrences of this nature further.
The Ministry promised better monitoring will be done.
The audit office therefore recommended that the Ministry expedite the plan to put the necessary officers in place so that better monitoring of the funds can take effect.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S National Futsal title

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S...

Jan 03, 2025

Lady Royals and Kanaimas to clash for Female championship Kaieteur Sports- The inaugural Kashif and Shanghai/One Guyana National Futsal Championship, which kicked off at the National Gymnasium with...
Read More
Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA Christmas Futsal Champions 

Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA...

Jan 03, 2025

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

Jan 03, 2025

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior Barebow Open, shoots off January 11 

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior...

Jan 03, 2025

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense Seminar

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense...

Jan 03, 2025

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for Guyanese professional boxing

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for...

Dec 31, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]