Africa-Press – Liberia. In a groundbreaking move to enhance accountability and transparency within the education sector, the Maryland County Education Office is set to embark on a comprehensive audit of all 179 functional schools across the county.
This initiative, made possible by the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) recent assignment of a professional auditor to the county, marks a significant milestone in Maryland County’s educational history.
According to County Education Officer (CEO) Larry Nimely, the audit aims to ensure that school principals, administrators, and the local education office are held accountable for funds generated at the school level.
“We are happy to announce the arrival of an auditor assigned to us by the Ministry,” Nimely stated.
“This is part of a broader effort to ensure accountability both at our local office and in the schools. For too long, partners have complained about paying fees without seeing how those funds are used. We couldn’t properly account for them because we were both the collectors and the auditors. This new system will now change that dynamic in a positive way.”
Nimely highlighted that the initiative is in line with best practices, emphasizing that previous leadership failed to provide proper accountability for funds provided by the MOE and its partners. “To meet the best standards and continue receiving much-needed support from our partners, we must ensure accountability at all levels. This audit is a timely and necessary step in that direction,” he added.
Several school principals have welcomed the audit initiative, describing it as a move towards improving the education system. Emmanuel Dennis, Principal of Harper Demonstration Elementary and Junior High School, commended the MOE for introducing the audit, calling it a sign of foresight.
“We’ve been crying for years to see proper management of the funds we contribute to the local Ministry office,” Dennis said. “But often, we were afraid to speak out for fear of losing our jobs. Imagine giving almost everything your school raises in a year to the local office, and yet your school is in a terrible state like mine.” He urged the newly assigned auditor to ensure the audit process is conducted thoroughly and with integrity.
The deployment of auditors to local education offices marks a significant milestone for Maryland County’s educational system. Expectations are high among educators and stakeholders that this new level of oversight will bring about transparency, improve service delivery, and restore trust in the system.
As the audit progresses, residents and stakeholders alike will be keenly watching the outcomes, anticipating that the findings will lead to meaningful reforms and improvements in the education sector.
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