Education Secretary Tapo warns schools on project commitments

Papua New Guinea Education secretary Dr Michael Tapo says no school or provincial education authority has the right to make financial commitments on behalf of the State.
Tapo was referring to the controversy over the delay in payment of work carried out by contractors in the National Capital District.
He said the contracts were done on an individual basis and not budgeted for.
“The contractors had signed the contracts with the provincial education advisers, school boards, principals but had not consulted the secretary’s office,” he said.
He said anything to do with school projects and the use of public money should be directed to the office of the secretary to confirm whether there was money to carry out the projects.
“The issue of contractors began in 2011. Secretaries at that time were never consulted,” he said.
“We have never been involved but we should be because anything that involves school infrastructure and the use of public money require consultation with us to find out whether there is enough money or not.”
He said engaging contractors outside of the budget had committed the State to a lot of money and led to the contractors fronting up at the education office demanding to be paid.

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PNG Today / The National