POOR RECORD-KEEPING FUELS FPE CORRUPTION IN SCHOOLS - REPORT

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo (second left) hands over a report on the use of free primary education funds to Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development on May 25, 2016. Looking on are EACC Commissioner Paul Gachoka (left) and Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang (right). PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By OUMA WANZALA
Poor record-keeping by headteachers undermines the proper use of free primary education (FPE) funds, a report has revealed.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) report, Examination into the Disbursement and Utilisation of Free Primary Education (FPE) Funds, notes that the Ministry of Education lacks a record management policy to guide primary schools on how to administer records created when the funds are used.
“Poor records management provides a fertile ground for corrupt practices to thrive in schools leading to misappropriation of FPE funds,” adds the report that was handed over to Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
The report notes that auditing the funds is difficult because the necessary records are incomplete or not available.
“The PS for Education [Belio] Kipsang should ensure that record management policy is developed and implemented, to guide schools in management of records relating to utilisation of FPE funds,” recommends the report.
It adds that the policy should clearly indicate the duration that records should be maintained and how they should be disposed of as well as assign the responsibility for managing records to specific officers and indicate how vital records are to be kept.

SEPARATE REGISTERS
“The team noted that donations are not recorded in separate registers, which made it difficult to distinguish between books bought from FPE and those donated or bought using donor funds,” observes the report.
It goes on: “This is a weakness that can be exploited to provide false information on the donation vis-à-vis materials procured through FPE funds.”
The report notes that headteachers use the excuse of work exigencies for their failure to maintain proper records.
“However, poor record management is a weakness that can allow for perpetration and concealment of corrupt malpractices,” adds the report, noting that it is not easy to establish the number of books purchased by most schools since the introduction of the FPE programme in 2003.
“This was attributed to poor record management practices such as failure to maintain records by schools, maintenance of incomplete records, and inadequate supervision by ministry officers during handing over to ensure that all vital materials are handed over by the outgoing head teacher among others,” states the report.
The EACC report notes that lack of proper record management practices makes it difficult to ensure proper accountability for purchased books and is a weakness that can be exploited to steal books.
“The team observed that records maintained for books issued to teachers and pupils in some schools did not capture some vital details that could ensure proper accountability,” states the school.
It adds that in some schools, such records did not capture the names of borrowers, the dates the books were issued, when they should be returned and the number of copies borrowed, among others, while in some cases, borrowers did not sign the register to confirm that the books were actually issued to them.
The report notes that in most schools visited by EACC investigators, deputy headteachers are responsible for the proper management of books and other instructional materials.

CREDIT: NATION