Missing K200,000 probed

 By CARMELLA GWARE

THE Education Department is to investigate how K200,000 allocated to the Morata Primary School in the National Capital District had gone missing.

Education Department standards officer James Apule said they had been made aware of the matter and would conduct a formal investigation.

National Capital District police confirmed that a complaint had been lodged at the Waigani Police Station.

The school’s headmaster denied that there was something amiss with the school’s account. 

He said he was still in the early stages of implementing the school learning improvement plan.

But a teacher, who asked not to be identified, said:  “I was shocked to find out that we have only K432.60 left after we had already received the first quarter of the subsidy as well as K50,000 from (Moresby Northeast MP) Michael Malabag.

“We have no idea as to how the money has been used.

“Three days before the term one break, we heard that the first quarter subsidy (K177,012) had been deposited into the school account.

“Just a day after that, four cheques totalling K15,300 were drawn – and it didn’t stop there.”

A parent said the misappropriation of funds had taken a toll on the school.

“The classrooms, desks, blackboards, everything is falling apart. The students attend classes until noon then go home.

“I fear this school might close. Where will we go? There is nowhere to go. Even teachers do not have enough material and I pay for my son’s exercise books because the school has none,” the parent said.