Massive financial irregularities have been uncovered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education department, raising serious concerns over governance.
An audit report for 2024-25 reveals missing equipment, questionable procurements, and significant losses to the national exchequer.
The Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2024-25 has highlighted financial irregularities worth Rs921 million in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Primary and Secondary Education.
The findings point to widespread mismanagement, lack of oversight, and procedural violations across multiple areas.
The most alarming issue identified in the audit is the disappearance of thousands of tablet devices. Out of 15,000 tablet PCs purchased for teacher training, a staggering 13,221 tablets went missing.
Each tablet was bought at a cost of Rs28,314, resulting in a loss of Rs374.3 million to the government treasury. The auditor has recommended the immediate recovery of the tablets and a formal inquiry to fix responsibility for the negligence.
Irregularities in smartphone procurement
The audit report also flagged irregularities worth Rs12.3 million in the purchase of smartphones. These discrepancies further highlight gaps in procurement practices within the department.
Serious concerns were also raised over the non-transparent awarding of a stationery contract for the Mardan Education Board. According to the audit, this resulted in a loss of over Rs19.2 million to the national exchequer.
Wasteful spending during COVID
The report revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when matriculation exams were suspended, the department still went ahead with unnecessary procurement of paper for Mardan Board exams. This led to an additional loss of Rs48.7 million, raising questions about planning and accountability.
The auditor general also pointed out a critical institutional failure: the department did not conduct any internal audit regarding these irregularities. This lack of internal checks and balances allowed financial mismanagement to go undetected for a prolonged period.
Call for accountability
The audit has strongly recommended strict action against those responsible, along with systemic reforms to prevent such lapses in the future.
The findings underline the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and improved governance in the education sector.
