KEETMANSHOOP – A number of schools in the //Karas Region have failed to use the universal primary education (UPE) funds out of fear of being held accountable and incurring possible sanctions, New Era can reveal.
According to the Director of Education in the region, /Awebahe //Hoeseb, when the school development fund (SDF) was still in place, no proof of expenditure was needed, which is different with the UPE funds that require strict accountability on usage.
He also highlighted that some teachers are completely overwhelmed by the amounts of funds that they now receive under UPE. The UPE funds are distributed to enable schools to acquire additional educational resources they may need to enhance learning. It comes in addition to the stationery and cleaning materials distributed by the Ministry of Education annually.
“Some schools never had SDF so they never even had N$1 000 to spend, but now they have N$30 000 as UPE funds intended for closing the gaps. In the past school management used the SDF to buy gifts for teachers that were leaving or they had year-end functions or staff retreats, but they are not allowed to do that with the UPE funds,” said //Hoeseb.
//Hoeseb explained that if it is found that schools continuously fail to spend the UPE funds, those funds would be diverted to other schools that are in need of such funds.
“How will I account for the funds if it just sits in the regional office’s account, what will I tell the Treasury on why the funds were not used? If they cannot spend the money then it means they are not in need of the money and we will take it away and give it to other schools,” he further elaborated.
Another concern is that principals fail to submit their reconciliation statements on time, delaying the imbursement of the UPE fund from the regional office, said inspector of education, Cassius Shanjengange.
Shanjengange singled out Ernst Jager Primary School in Karasburg as one of the culprits who accounted for their expenditure in the second payment only this year.
“We have given principals training on how to use and account for the UPE funds, we have even given them a synopsis of the UPE training manual, but principals are overly cautious because they are afraid they will be charged for mismanagement of funds,” he said.
He said that there are fears the money may be used for other purposes and that the child will not benefit from the money, which is one of the reasons why UPE funds are distributed in three parts and not as a one-off payment.
Shanjengange further urged parents to become involved in their children’s education saying parents and teachers should work as a team.
“The academic performance of many of our schools will improve drastically if only parents get involved. They need to work with their schools so that there should be no reason why the parent and the teacher clash when discipline needs to be instilled. If parents can take the initiative to clean the school yard or to address the state of schools then things can be so much different,” he urged.
He also suggested that principals adapt themselves to changing environments and to initiate innovate ideas to instil discipline in their schools.
“I understand some teachers feel powerless now that corporal punishment is banned, but there are other ways to discipline children. Parents must understand they have a responsibility towards their children’s education and it need not be material contributions only,’ said Shanjegange.
The government implemented UPE from grades one to seven in 2013.
By Jemima Beukes