By: Aminata Sesay
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Wednesday to respond to several concerns raised in the 2023 Audit Report. The hearing, chaired by Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, Leader of the Opposition, focused on unresolved financial discrepancies, missing documentation, and lapses in internal administrative controls within the ministry.
The session was described by the committee as a continuation of previous engagements aimed at following up on earlier recommendations. A major issue highlighted was the ministry’s failure to submit a fully signed copy of the National Basic Education Commission Placement Policy. Although a draft version of the policy was presented, it lacked the required signatures from both the Minister and the Chief Education Officer. Officials explained that the Minister had traveled abroad, leaving the unsigned document on his desk.
“The policy remains unofficial and cannot be treated as binding until it is duly signed,” warned Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, adding that further delays could influence the committee’s final decisions.
Another major concern was the disbursement of examination fees to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). According to the audit report, Le 90.3 billion was paid to WAEC for 220,721 candidates. However, supporting documentation was only available for 203,026 candidates leaving a gap of over 17,000 candidates and a financial discrepancy exceeding Le 7.2 billion.
“The list submitted during audit verification did not match the number of candidates reportedly paid for. This discrepancy remains unresolved unless a verified list is presented,” Hon. Koroma stated.
In response, ministry officials presented a new list during the hearing, claiming it accounts for all 220,721 candidates. PAC members requested that the Auditor-General’s office verify the updated document and report back to the committee.
Further scrutiny was directed at the ministry’s payroll system. PAC members questioned the continued salary payments to three staff members—a driver, a messenger, and a literacy organizer—throughout 2020, despite records indicating their absence from duty. Officials acknowledged the absences, stating that one staff member suffered from mental health issues while another was believed to be deceased. However, the ministry failed to present any formal documentation of termination or disciplinary proceedings.
PAC chairpersons stressed that the absence of regular staff audits had contributed to these payroll issues. “The lack of periodic verification enabled salaries to be paid to absent or unverified staff, resulting in a loss of over Le 29 million,” the committee noted.
The committee also questioned the ministry’s internal audit practices. PAC members demanded proof of quarterly internal audit reports, as required under the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act. Ministry officials were unable to immediately provide the requested documents.
The session concluded with several issues marked as unresolved. The PAC gave the ministry a deadline to submit the necessary documentation, including signed policy papers, full staff verification reports, and an updated WAEC payment list.
As the hearings continue, Parliament’s commitment to promoting fiscal accountability and transparency in public institutions remains firm. The final outcome of these deliberations could significantly impact future funding and reform efforts in Sierra Leone’s education sector.