RAKIRAKI-based schoolteacher Laisani Nai Senikarawa has called for a stronger monitoring of the use of free education grants given to schools by the Ministry of Education.
She told the Nadi consultations of the Education Act Review it was sad that some teachers, under suspicion of misusing the grants, were being posted to other schools without any proper disciplinary measures.
“If a head of school breaches this policy (of misuse of funds), will they continue holding that post because this happens a lot in primary schools in rural settings,” she said. Ms Senikarawa said monitoring the use of the grant was also not stringent enough.
“It is sad to see that classroom teachers have to suffer when the leadership is not up to par with the use of the grants.
“It is already little and when it is misused there is nothing being done.
“It is also sad that these teachers move to another school and continue serving as head of school. How can we assure the community, teachers and the ministry that this particular person will not repeat this breach?
“So, the monitoring part is lacking on the part of the ministry.”
In response, Education Act Review Commission legal drafter Lyanne Vaurasi said this was an important issue they would address in the reviewed Act.
“I think it is an excellent point, and it is something that we are definitely going to look into which is accountability and transparency in terms of the grants given to schools,” said Ms Vaurasi.
“In terms of audit requirements and making accessible audit reports.”
The ministry’s manager for Policy, Planning and Research Metuisela Gauna said a policy exists for this particular issue.
“I know some teachers have ended up in court and based on the decision of the court then the ministry acts on the relevant decision that supports that decision of the court,” Mr Gauna said.
He said the Audit Unit assesses everything entered into its database by each school, including audit reports and receipts.
“They have to submit all expenses through the FEMIS, and our audit team audits every update from each school, but I am thinking about what is being entered into the database which is another question.”
