Concern over delay in probing schools’ funds

By GLORIA BAUAI
THE Morobe education board is concerned with the slowness of police investigations into alleged misuse of funds by certain school principals this year.
Bugandi Secondary, Menyamya Secondary and Salamaua High School hit the radar of the authorities, resulting in the suspension of their head teachers pending investigations.
Provincial education programme adviser Keith Tangui said Bugandi’s was a sensitive case, there had been no financial report submitted over the past five years.
He said the matter was brought before the courts and fraud investigations were launched in September.
“We put in a complaint to the police and provincial education board officials, including myself, have done follow-ups but to date no favourable feedback,” Tangui said.
“I’m asking the police hierarchy to look at the common good of those who have been spending a lot of money to run Bugandi – the government tuition fee subsidy, parents’ money, the students without uniforms and learning materials.
“This school owes K4million to various service providers yet they don’t have money to pay – I’m very sorry that they (service providers) were misled.
“So if police cannot help us, it’s now back to the provincial education board drawing board as the legitimate decision-making body of the province to decide.”