Rural primary education program

Audit report covers the period 7/31/80-5/31/83 and is based on document review, interviews with USAID/H and GOH personnel, and visits to 32 schools. The project is in serious financial difficulty and implementation is far behind schedule. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has had great difficulty in meeting the provisions of the Fixed Amount Reimbursement System, which requires that a job meet agreed-upon specifications before reimbursement is made. Of 977 construction or renovation starts made, only 165 have been accepted by USAID/H; many that were apparently adequate had to be rejected because of minor defects. As a result, USAID/H has been unable to advance more funds, and construction virtually ceased by 12/82. (Near the end of the audit, the GOH agreed to supply funds generated from Economic Support Fund grants.) Construction of teachers" housing in particular stands little chance of being finished, with only 5 of 600 units completed, and it appears this component is impractical, especially as to relocation of teachers from urban to rural areas. Most project problems can be attributed to MOE inefficiency, especially its failure to effectively coordinate activities, clearly assign authority, and institute an adequate accounting system and internal controls. In addition, commodity procurement has been inefficient, commodity storage insecure, and project equipment poorly maintained. The MOE has begun to implement a maintenance system, but will not be able to do so nationally as planned. Specific recommendations address project deficiencies. On the other hand, and despite the lack of adequate facilities, equipment, supplies, and funds, considerable progress has been made in improving educational supervision and inservice teacher training. Training has been provided to some 800 persons, participants have been selected for overseas training, and technical assistance has been successful.