BY INDY MAEALASIA
FUNDING delays in 2024 has prevented the Ministry of Education and Human Resources
Development (MEHRD) from carrying out some of its planned school inspections, a vital
process for maintaining education standards across the country.
Speaking before the Public Expenditure Committee (PEC) Tuesday, Director of the Ministry’s
Inspectorate Division, Emily Siriki said that a funding hold by the Ministry of Finance and
Treasury (MOFT) last year had impacted their inspections work, particularly in parts of Isabel,
Western Province, and South and North Malaita.
Siriki explained that while the division has a baseline budget of $1.6 million, the amount is
insufficient to cover the full scope of inspections and monitoring activities.
“In terms of the money for monitoring and continuous visiting schools doesn’t fit that the
amount that we have for the inspections,” she added.
Despite the financial challenges, she noted that inspections were still conducted in some
provinces, primarily targeting schools with probationary teachers.
In a few regions, inspections were made possible through financial support from local education providers.
In addition to financial constraints, Permanent Secretary Franco Rodie highlighted the significant
geographical challenges the division faces in reaching remote and widely dispersed schools
across the country, noting that while transportation by sea and road is available, it remains
limited PEC member and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale expressed concern over the budget shortfall
and urged the Ministry to safeguard the division’s funding from reallocation or cuts.
“This is critical. The funding needs to be ring-fenced. It cannot fall victim to reservations or
virements, or be starved of resources.” Wale said.
“If you’re not out and about, we don’t know what the real problems in schools are.
“Inspections must be safeguarded so that when you report to us, we understand the issues and can determine whether the government is responding adequately at the policy level,” he added.
Currently there are 21 school inspectors stationed across the nine provinces including Honiara.
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