Govt seeks new system of procuring school books

The Education ministry is working on a book procurement system that will ensure that school heads and ministry officials are fully involved.

Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the new system is aimed at addressing wastage of resources allocated for purchasing books and ensuring schoolchildren have access to books.

“We must agree that the current system of procurement of books by school heads and management committee is not working,” said the Cabinet secretary.

His remarks appear to indicate a softening of his position on the issue. He had previously said no school head would be involved in procuring books as they had failed to ensure a 1:1 pupil-book ratio.

Politicians and booksellers had also opposed taking away the book procurement role from headteachers.

Dr Matiang’i asked politicians to keep off the issue, saying that they must understand the current book distribution system is not working and to stop politicising the matter.

He also disclosed that the ministry would not be seeking additional resources from the National Treasury, saying that what is available to them is sufficient.

“We have a lot of resources in the ministry that we only need to put into proper use and do not expect me to go to the President to ask for more money,” said Dr Matiang’i when he received a report on the use of free primary education (FPE) funds last week.

In the report, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has suggested the ministry consider pooling the procurement and distribution of learning materials to schools.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo said the pooling can be done at the district or county level.

POOR RECORD-KEEPING

At the same time, the report notes that poor record-keeping by headteachers undermines the proper use of FPE funds.

It notes that the Education ministry lacks a records management policy to guide primary schools on managing records created when the FPE funds are used.

“Poor records management provides a fertile ground for corrupt practices to thrive in schools leading to misappropriation of FPE funds,” adds the report.

The report notes that auditing the funds is difficult because the necessary records are incomplete or not available.

“The PS for Education [Belio] Kipsang should ensure that record management policy is developed and implemented, to guide schools in management of records relating to utilisation of FPE funds,” recommends the report.