Opposition calls for report by auditor general

The opposition's main spokesman on education, Carmelo Abela, has called on the auditor general to draw up a report on the situation at the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools.

Addressing a press conference in front of the education ministry yesterday, Mr Abela said the report should be concluded as soon as possible and discussed by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives.

Mr Abela said he was not excluding that Education Minister Louis Galea should resign over the case, depending on the auditor general's findings.

The foundation, which refurbishes and builds state schools, has terminated the contracts of its chief executive officer and other officials after it was established that financial regulations and procedures were not strictly observed.

Mr Abela said it was about time the Public Accounts Committee was given the facts so it could determine what took place, what steps needed to be taken and who should shoulder the political responsibility.

"The opposition is being very clear about this case. We had warned the government a year ago about the situation at the foundation. The Labour Party believes the children, and not other people, should benefit from the operations of the foundation."

Mr Abela recalled that during the last legislature the opposition had asked for an inquiry into the foundations' operations. However, government representatives on a board appointed to investigate the situation had resigned and the inquiry never took place. The matter was then passed on to the auditor general.

It was shocking, Mr Abela said, that before the election Dr Galea had given assurances that the foundation was working in a very serious manner and that it was saving a lot of money.

"Is the education minister of the same opinion now," Mr Abela asked.

In certain cases the foundation had worked in a "scandalous" manner, with certain contracts divided into separate bids in order not to be subject to certain financial regulations and to enable direct orders to be issued.

In reaction to Mr Abela's statements, the ministry insisted that the foundation was an effective organisation which ensured that government schools were of a high quality.

The foundation, it said, was also a public agency which ensured principles of accountability and transparency.

The ministry said the foundation had done a record amount of work in schools. Whenever there were shortcomings, it assumed responsibility and took the necessary steps.

The information requested on the foundation had already been given in parliament and had become public, the ministry added, accusing the opposition of trying to gain political mileage from the case.

The ministry quoted Dr Galea as saying he would be delighted to see the Public Accounts Committee discussing the foundations' operations at the opportune time.

Dr Galea believed that the facts clearly showed that he had always carried out his duties to the full and never failed to take the necessary measures according to his responsibilities.

There would have been lack of accountability had the board failed to take the necessary steps or had the ministry interfered in the board's duties. "The facts showed that the responsibility was being assumed by those responsible."

On Wednesday, Dr Galea told parliament the foundation's board had acted on its own initiative when it decided to terminate the contracts.

Replying to parliamentary questions by Mr Abela, Dr Galea said he could understand the frustration of those who wanted to get work done quickly but were delayed by bureaucratic procedures. In such circumstances, some tried to cut corners, not to abuse but for genuine reasons. Nonetheless, his position was that there should be no deviation from procedures and policies.