Education budget fails to cater for critical sector needs
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Education budget fails to cater for critical sector needs
BOSETU President Winston Radikolo says the education budget for this financial year is simply insufficient since it has not been crafted to deal with already existing challenges such as the fact that there are not enough textbooks in schools, state of disrepair of facilities, dysfunctional equipment, just to mention a few.
Speaking at a BOSETU budget session at BOSETU headquaters this week Radikolo observed that this, therefore, means that there are no additional funds that have been earmarked for purposes of addressing existing challenges.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...