Finance Ministry CSOs Squeeze Education Ministry
The ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) has told the Ministry of Education at the just concluded 2018 budget discussion that they can only be included in to the budget if they fulfill criteria highlighted below.
Deputy Director of Budget, Tasima Jah said they must not only give clear explanation of donor funds received or status of deliverables for 2016 and 2017 financial years but they must also display their procurement and proper accountability of 2016 and 2017.
Jah made it very clearly in presence of Civil Society Organizations, District Budget Oversight Committees (DBOCs), the media and other members of the public that they will not going to proceed with their budget if they fail to honor the stated conditions.
He appealed to Non-State Actors (NSA) to accept decision of facilitators and allow MEST budget to be approved and assured all participants that until they get those vital information or else they will properly scrutinized the entire ministry.
Assistant Deputy Director of Budget, Mrs. Lauratu Johnson stressed that a nation is nothing without quality education and emphasized the way and manner citizens are worried over the poor status of our education system. “We all know what is happening in the education sectors with regards the many cases in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as a result of examinations malpractices”. She encouraged MEST to present their status co of the ongoing projects.
Responding, members of the Civil Society informed education ministry to ensure issues raised at the presentation are well addressed or implemented to avoid future controversy adding that the issues of subvention in universities and young people not accessing university is also a great concern among citizens. They therefore expressed anticipation that MEST will not repeat the same mistake next year budget presentation.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
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