The findings of the corruption watchdog relating to the review process for educational subsidies “are considered harsh [but have nevertheless been] accepted,” the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) said in a statement.
Before the Christmas holidays, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) issued a report that criticized the DSEDJ for its weak performance in the reviewing, vetting and approving of grants released by the Education Development Fund (FDE).
Post-grant supervision was just as weak, the CCAC noted in its report.
In response, the DSEDJ and the FDE, a fund operated under and supervised by the bureau, stated that they “appreciated the CCAC’s work in the areas of the FDE’s handling and implementation of grants.”
The two bureaus “will also humbly study, analyze and learn from the CCAC’s findings. Measures will also be put in place to close loopholes and improve procedures.”
The DSEDJ noted that it had established a taskforce earlier this year to monitor the performance of the fund. The taskforce comprises internal personnel who are not part of the grant review process.
Following that, measures have been enacted to improve five aspects of the grant review process.
For example, the bureau facilitated the implementation of a two-tier supervisory mechanism, with school management being the first tier and the bureau being the second. Occasional subsidies were changed to be issued after the review of the implementation report of preceding subsidies to lessen the chances of schools needing to refund the bureau.
A set of guidelines has also been drafted to codify details of grants and subsidies, including details on the coverage, types, and nature of grants. A database of vendors was also created for schools to choose from when an external procurement is necessary.
Schools will be required to provide financial reports when grants are issued for major projects. The reports will also be required to be reviewed by certified auditors or accountants.
The DSEDJ pledged that it would continue to improve the administration and operation of the FDE.
