The Ministry of Education’s spending has come under scrutiny in the wake of the release of the 2021 audit report (381), which reveals several significant concerns. The report highlights an unspent amount of $438.717 million out of the $20.175 billion allocated to the Ministry across six programmes. While the Ministry attributes the unspent amount to savings and the delay in school openings caused by the pandemic, the report raises questions about the efficiency of the Ministry’s spending and whether those sums could not be spent on much needed furniture, environment maintenance, supplies and other pressing needs of the schools across the country.
Moreover, the report also reveals that and additional $64.162 million was unspent out of the $857.054 million allotted to the Dietary program, which includes hot meals, breakfast, and juice and biscuits programs. The Ministry’s explanation for this unspent amount is that schools only fully reopened in September 2021, however with some innovative thinking, these funds could have been used to supplement lunch programs for vulnerable children in communities across Guyana.
Another significant issue highlighted by the report is the $1.554 billion unspent out of the $5.507 billion allocated for capital expenditure. The Head of Budget Agency explained that the unspent sums were mainly due to a shift in policy for the Ministry, delay in projects and roll-over projects, completion of works less than initially projected, and delayed awards, but the Audit Office’s has recommended that the Head of Budget Agency should undertake to start projects earlier in order to detect any issues or delays in a timely manner since this would be crucial to ensure that amounts are expended as budgeted.
Considering the dire needs of schools across the country, the Ministry of Education must take a critical look at its spending practices and think more broadly of creative ways to implement the recommendations put forward by the Audit Office. While some unspent amounts may be due to savings and delays, the Ministry must ensure that all allocated funds are utilized effectively, and earlier projects must be undertaken to detect and address any issues or delays in a timely manner. The country depends on the Ministry of Education to fulfill its mandate effectively and efficiently.
