NAO AND MBSSE CONCLUDES VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF SCHOOL FURNITURE IN FOUR DISTRICTS

The NAO and a team from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE) have recently concluded a Verification and Inspection trip to ensure that 38,000 single-seater desk and bench sets purchased for 422 Junior Secondary Schools in Bo, Kenema, Bombali, and Port Loko Districts, meet contractual specifications. The school furniture, which is being supplied as part of the European Union’s support to the Education Sector in Sierra Leone financed under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) is intended to replace broken furniture in schools and provide more seating for pupils. Periodic Verification and Inspection trips are an important part of the NAO’s role to monitor quality control and ensure that the Government of Sierra Leone’s development partnership with the EU is meeting contractual requirements and the needs of the service users. The Verification and Inspection team was composed of a technical representative from the carpentry division in the Ministry of Works, an auditor from the Ministry of Finance attached to the Ministry of Education and staff from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE). The trip was concluded before the 3-day lockdown and participants observed social distancing advice from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation