Recent Performance Audit Report by the country’s supreme audit institution has unveiled visible threats in the distribution of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) by the Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education.
According to the Report, poor and inadequate storage facilities for the distributions of teaching and learning materials for the Free Quality School Education had and continue to be viewed as visible threats engulfing the process.
According to the Report spanning from 2018-2021 that was published in November of 2022 disclosed interviews with key personnel and inspector of schools have it that limited storage facilities were provided for TLMs, and therefore, councils’ office spaces, conference halls, canteen among other places were occupied for the storage of materials, page nine of the Report revealed.
This notwithstanding, out of a sample of one hundred and fifteen (115) schools, eighty-five percent (85%) lacked adequate storage facilities fitted with shelves, while only fifteen percent (15%) of schools with adequate storage facilities.
According to the Report, some of the books were packed on bare floor in stores that had leaking roofs and insecure doors, posing threats of damage or theft of the materials.
Report findings have it that there is no specific policy for the distribution of teaching and learning materials.
The report stipulated, it was revealed by the National Coordinator, Free Quality School Education in 2020 that a DFID consultant started developing a resource framework for the FQSE but was interrupted by Covid 19, even though evidence of the framework not submitted for review.
According to stakeholders from the ministry, local councils and schools disclosed that there was no policy to quid the TLM distribution process, for which they agreed, led to poor coordination and lack of leadership in the process.
The report revealed that the distribution that was supposed to be carried out by the local councils was champion by the ministry.
Instances of limited textbooks, some school heads give out available textbooks to pupils on rotational basis while others keep the books in schools to be used in groups during school sessions, hence made it difficult to fully and effectively implement the TLMs distribution process.
Analysis of documents reviewed, and interview notes revealed that the TLMs distribution process lacked proper needs assessment as the said situation led to the concentration of procurement of sporting equipment, even though schools already have them in their stores without being used.
“Basketball rims and volleyball nets which were bought in 2019/2020 academic year and supplied to schools without being utilized, the same equipment were brought and supplied to these same schools in 2020/2021 academic year” the Report emphasized.
During inspection of schools, it was observed that most of the basketball rims and volleyball nets were kept in stores since the schools didn’t have basketball or volleyball courts, hence wastage of resources as TLMs were not prioritized according to needs, the report narrated.
According to the supreme audit institution, the line ministry failed to concentrate on the replacement of worn-out textbooks and supply of more exercise books to ensure even distribution to schools.
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