By: Aminata Sesay
Parliament has intensified its scrutiny of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE) following a detailed engagement with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the 2024 Auditor General’s Report. The session exposed systemic weaknesses in financial management, payroll controls, and project implementation.
During the hearing, PAC members pressed ministry officials to provide documentary evidence supporting claims that several audit queries had been resolved. The committee emphasized that without verifiable records, such issues would remain unresolved and continue to appear in national audit reports.
A major concern raised was the non-functionality of key digital platforms, including an education data system and a results checker platform intended to improve public access to examination results. Principal Auditor assigned to the PAC, Mohamed Mustapha, noted that despite significant investment often through donor-funded projects these platforms were not operational at the time of the audit, undermining transparency and accountability.
Ministry representatives acknowledged the challenges, citing expired contracts, funding gaps, and unclear ownership structures involving multiple agencies. However, Mustapha maintained that explanations alone were insufficient, stressing that the absence of evidence of corrective action justified retaining the issues in the report.
The PAC directed the ministry to submit a detailed written report, including timelines and proof of functionality, by midweek next week.
The committee also examined the prolonged suspension of the online results checker system, which had initially been introduced as a pilot programme to improve access for parents and students. Officials explained that the system was discontinued due to concerns about revenue loss from existing result-checking mechanisms.
However, the lack of formal agreements or documentation supporting this decision drew sharp criticism. Committee members warned that reliance on verbal arrangements or informal evidence is unacceptable in public administration and demanded written justification for the suspension.
The PAC also raised alarm over two contracts awarded in 2021 for the supply of teaching and learning materials and the installation of beds in schools. Despite advance payments totaling millions of Leones, contractors have failed to deliver the goods more than two years later.
More concerning, the performance bonds and advance payment guarantees tied to these contracts had expired without renewal, exposing public funds to potential loss.
Ministry officials stated that the matter had been referred to legal authorities and the Anti-Corruption Commission, but they failed to present supporting documentation during the session. The committee ordered the submission of all contracts, correspondence, and contractor details, warning that it could summon the contractors directly if necessary.
The hearing also revealed serious payroll anomalies, including continued salary payments to deceased staff months after their deaths. The failure of the ministry’s Human Resources Directorate to notify the relevant authorities was identified as a major lapse.
In addition, auditors flagged 38 staff members who could not be physically verified but collectively received nearly Le 1.9 billion (old Leone) in salaries in 2024. While the ministry attributed some cases to staff transfers following institutional restructuring, the PAC insisted on concrete evidence, including deployment records and verification reports.
Auditors warned that such lapses could indicate the presence of ghost workers or weak internal controls, posing a significant risk to public finances.
Throughout the session, the PAC underscored the need for stronger internal monitoring systems, including regular staff attendance tracking, timely reporting of deaths and absences, proper documentation of contracts and decisions, and improved coordination with oversight bodies.
Members stressed that audit findings are public documents and could affect the ministry’s credibility with development partners and the general public.
The committee gave the ministry a strict deadline to submit all required documentation, including evidence of actions taken to address the audit queries. Only after verification by auditors will the issues be considered for removal from official records.
In his closing remarks, a senior ministry official thanked the committee and assured members that corrective measures would be taken.
“We will take coordinated action and ensure that outstanding issues are addressed so they do not recur,” he said.
The PAC is expected to reconvene to review the ministry’s submissions. Failure to provide satisfactory evidence could lead to further investigations.
The hearing highlights ongoing challenges in public sector accountability, particularly in managing donor-funded projects, maintaining payroll integrity, and ensuring that government systems deliver value for money to citizens.