The Commission on Audit (COA) has identified deficiencies in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) spending of its P8.136 billion COVID-19 funds for the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) for school year 2020-2021.
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Among the deficiencies are lapses in the budget utilization of the agency, non-compliance with the Government Procurement Reform Act, as well as incomplete procurement and delivery of self-learning modules (SLMs) which apparently affected the distance learning’s implementation.
The existence of errors and deficiencies in the self-learning modules was an indication of the deficient planning on the preparation of self-learning modules, and procedural lapses in the checking/review and evaluation process/system of the division, thus adversely affecting the quality of the self-learning modules and the department’s objective of ensuring quality basic education,
the COA said.
Meanwhile, the audit team said that the DepEd management had reasoned out the delay in the process of requesting for allotment release orders including the department's limited workforce, which the team recognized and understood due to the challenges posed by the current working condition.
However, the COA emphasized that the implementation of the program should not be affected by the setback in the timely release of the fund to maximize the benefits that can be derived from that and to assure the overall preparedness of the implementing schools in order to continue students’ learning amid the threat and uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.
Moreover, the audit report also found errors in the SLMs in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Central Luzon, such as errors in spellings, punctuations and other typographical errors.
According to concerned regional offices of DepEd, these errors could be attributed to unclear directives from the central office on the preparation of modules and lack of training of teachers.
The audit team recommended that the DepEd should improve and strengthen its review process, scrutiny and evaluation of modules, and take heed of operational timelines in the conduct of procurement processes that need urgent and immediate action.
The DepEd said in a statement that the COA’s findings, which were mainly recording errors, are now being rectified by the education department and will be used to improve its budget management.
DepEd wishes to emphasize that none of the initial findings pertained to corruption, malversation of public funds, negligence, or the betrayal of public trust,
it said.
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DepEd flagged by COA over deficiencies in spending P8-B funds for distance learning
Reviewed by Issues PH
on
August 17, 2021
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Reviewed by Issues PH
on
August 17, 2021
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