A government audit has exposed serious procurement failures at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), revealing that nearly all of its Le33.6 million spending in 2023 breached established rules and procedures.

According to the 2023 Annual Public Procurement Compliance Assessment Report released by the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), the MBSSE conducted 16 procurement activities last year. The bulk of this spending, over Le30.7 million, or 91%, came from government coffers, while donor contributions accounted for Le2.9 million (8.7%), and just Le36,515 (0.1%) was raised through internal revenue.

But behind these figures lies a troubling story. Although 12 of the 16 procurement activities were listed in the ministry’s approved procurement plan, the audit found that only one activity, worth just Le35,600, was actually carried out according to plan. This means a staggering 99.9% of procurement spending, totaling Le32.8 million, was not aligned with the ministry’s own plan, a clear breach of Section 29(6) of the Public Procurement Act of 2016.

“This lack of compliance represents a serious breakdown in procurement discipline and undermines transparency and value for money,” the report stated.

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The audit also found that most of the ministry’s spending was directed toward the purchase of goods—six contracts valued at Le30.46 million, representing 90% of the total. The remaining ten activities, costing Le3.2 million, were for services.

The procurement methods used included National Competitive Bidding (NCB), which covered two high-value activities totaling Le29.67 million (88%); Restricted Bidding, used for six contracts worth Le3.75 million (11%); and the Request for Quotation (RFQ) method, used for eight small activities worth just Le255,805 (1%).

Alarmingly, none of these activities followed the required use of the Standard Procurement Form (SPF-1), marking a 100% non-compliance rate with this basic procedural requirement. The absence of such documentation not only violates procurement regulations but also raises red flags about record-keeping and accountability.

Worse still, two major contracts representing Le29.67 million suffered delayed payments, placing financial strain on service providers and increasing the risk of substandard or late delivery of essential goods and services.

Although the ministry’s procurement register recorded all 16 activities and most were evaluated, one contract, worth Le14,450, was not reviewed at all. This oversight violates Sections 21 and 53(2) of the Procurement Act and undermines the fairness and credibility of the evaluation process.

The report also highlighted critical structural issues within the MBSSE’s procurement setup. While the ministry does have a procurement unit and committee, these bodies lack basic resources such as computers and access to regular training, factors that significantly affect performance and contribute to poor planning and execution.

Even more concerning is that the ministry failed to update its procurement plan to reflect what was actually implemented during the year. Despite having a signed plan in place, the failure to revise it as projects evolved constitutes another regulatory violation.

The NPPA has urged the ministry to strengthen its internal systems, improve staff capacity, and ensure strict compliance with procurement laws. “Timely updates to procurement plans and adherence to procedure are essential for transparency and efficiency,” the report emphasized.