Home News No cheques cut for textbooks, no ministerial authority over payments – Education...
…corrects misinformation on textbook procurement policy
The Education Ministry has assured of transparency and accountability in its process of procuring textbooks for distribution in schools across the country.
On Tuesday, a social media commentator alleged corruption in the Education Ministry’s procurement process of textbooks for distribution in schools countrywide.
In a written response published just before midnight, the ministry headed by Priya Manickchand set the record straight, assuring that the process is in alignment with the country’s laws and follows all principles of transparency and accountability.
In fact, the ministry explained that it has an internal textbook policy and a dedicated committee that gathers together teachers from across the country of the particular subject and level/grade and together they determine the most relevant, useful book for usage by learners.
In most cases, the ministry explained that only one text per subject is bought but for some subjects such as Math, English, some Sciences, more than one textbook may be bought based on recommendations from the committee members.
Procurement then commences. The ministry noted that where books are owned by publishers, the government buys directly from the seller as to do anything else would be a breach of copyright. In some cases, individuals, companies or publishers also have exclusive rights to distribute particular books to countries or the Caribbean region.
To begin procurement, the publisher is contacted and a quotation is sought. Negotiations to bring down prices may take place, the ministry explained. Thereafter, an award is sought from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board using said quotation with appropriate justification for sole sourcing.
A Cabinet no objection is then sought in accordance with the Procurement Act and once that is given, an award is prepared and a contract, entered into. When purchased books are delivered, the vendor is paid.
The ministry further explained that where the committee recommended books that have no known publisher or one cannot be located, a public advertisement is placed in the newspaper and on the worldwide web calling for the least expensive, most responsive person to bid to so provide. Those bids are then evaluated by the NPTAB and a cabinet no objection sought and purchases made accordingly.
According to the ministry contrary to the offending post, no cheque was cut for any of the named books in the quotation or to the publisher or at all, as alleged. The ministry further clarified that the Minister is without the ability and/or jurisdiction to cut or order the cutting of cheques.
Additionally, it argued that in any event, said cheques could not be cut as alleged as there were no releases yet from the Ministry of Finance. The ministry noted that its Book Distribution Unit was merely being proactive in getting quotations for the books that are needed in the system.
In light of the post made, the ministry has since cautioned politicians, political parties and other personalities to refrain from endangering the lives of our children or hampering their quality of education by politicising education.
