Education Committee Probes Colleges of Education’s Financial Practices

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education has launched a probe into the financial practices of several Colleges of Education, following adverse findings in the Auditor General's reports for the 2024 and 2025 financial years. The investigation aims to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with prescribed financial, procurement, and management standards.

Colleges of Education Under Scrutiny

The exercise began with the Committee reviewing the financial and procurement practices of institutions such as St John Bosco's College of Education, Gambaga College of Education, Dambai College of Education, Al Faruq College of Education, OLA College of Education, Peki College of Education, St Francis College of Education, and E.P. College of Education, Amedzofe. Lawmakers have expressed concern about procurement lapses identified at some of the institutions, urging college authorities to strictly comply with the relevant procurement laws and procedures.

Chairman of the Committee, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, has emphasized the need for management to strengthen internal controls to ensure public funds are properly accounted for and used for their intended purposes. "The need for management to strengthen internal controls to ensure public funds are properly accounted for and used for their intended purposes," he stressed.

Risk Management and Staff Training

A member of the Committee, Fred Kyei, has urged the colleges to develop comprehensive risk management frameworks that would enable them to identify potential threats early and take appropriate measures to minimize their impact. Lawmakers have also encouraged the institutions to prioritize regular in-service training for their staff, arguing that continuous professional development would help improve administrative practices and enhance the quality of services delivered by the colleges.

The Committee's concerns about risk management and staff training are particularly relevant in the context of public educational institutions. In many countries, these institutions are critical to the development of human capital and economic growth. However, their financial and operational practices often come under scrutiny due to concerns about accountability, transparency, and efficiency.

Engagements with Institutions

The Committee engaged with several institutions, including Akrokeri College of Education, Wiawso College of Education, Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education, Sunyani Technical University, and Dr Hilla Limann Technical University. These engagements were intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that public educational institutions comply with prescribed financial, procurement, and management standards.

The Committee's probe into the financial practices of Colleges of Education is a critical step towards ensuring accountability and transparency in public educational institutions. As lawmakers continue to scrutinize the financial and operational practices of these institutions, it remains to be seen whether the necessary reforms will be implemented to address the concerns raised by the Auditor General's reports.

Source: JOY