Institution heads, governing body chairs to be held accountable for irregularities

The Ministry of Education has issued a new policy to ensure financial transparency and accountability in educational institutions, making governing body chairs and institution heads jointly responsible for any irregularities.

The “Financial Transparency and Accountability Policy for Educational Institutions” was issued on Monday (February 16) by the ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division.

Under the policy, all income and expenditure of educational institutions must be managed in accordance with existing government financial rules. Institutional accounts will be operated through joint signatures of the governing body chair and the head of the institution.

The policy states that the institution head will be responsible for preserving financial records in line with relevant laws and regulations. Any financial irregularity or corruption committed through the governing body will result in action against those responsible under prevailing rules.

It further stipulates that governing body chairs and institution heads will be held jointly liable for any financial misconduct committed during their tenure, even if they later leave office.

The ministry said the move aims to strengthen financial discipline and curb corruption in educational institutions.