Alexis Tam applauds DSEJ after accusations from watchdog

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, yesterday lauded the efforts of the Director of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), Leong Lai, following a report from the Commission of Audit (CA) that slammed the bureau’s flawed oversight that allowed for overcharging at private schools and the mishandling of government subsidies.
The senior official said that he welcomed the agency’s criticisms, which he thought could result in the strengthening of management among not only the education authorities but also among other departments under his supervision.
“We need to take the lead to make all other departments understand that public money has to be spent properly,” he said on the sidelines of a visit.
The audit report’s findings identify that the DSEJ was not strict in attaining proof of expenses from schools, and therefore not acting in line with the approved regulations. In 29 of the analyzed subsidy plan reports, various irregularities were found, including millions of patacas in unverified expenses.
Before meeting Leong in the afternoon to discuss the CA report, Tam already told media that her [Leong’s] contribution and endeavors in formulating policies over the years should not be overshadowed by a single incidence of “negligence.”
Yet, he still admitted responsibility for the issues noted in the report and urged the department to keep a closer eye on how private schools spent government funds.
“I think it could have been handled better, more scrupulously and cautiously,” said Tam. “Therefore in the future I will require our bureau head to do a better job.”
Furthermore, Tam called on the public to offer the bureau head an opportunity to provide an explanation, as she might not even be aware of the misappropriated funds.
In a statement released shortly after the report came in, DSEJ that it “fully respects the report.”
“[We] will carry out a study in a responsible manner and swiftly adopt measures to make improvements in order to ensure the legal and effective use of the grants,” the statement reads.
Asked whether he would impose a penalty on the management at the bureau, as the authorities were negligent in their management, Tam continued to support the bureau and dismissed the punishment as unnecessary.
In 2012, a report also from the watchdog highlighted the bureau’s problematic monitoring of the Continuing Education Development Program, which was introduced the year before to encourage locals to broaden their knowledge. Malpractice by authorities has cost the public coffer MOP17.13 million. This time the commission pointed out that the government has lost track of MOP28 million due to the bureau’s laxity.