Office of the Auditor-General addresses school audit integrity reports

The Office of the Auditor-General has issued a response following media reports questioning the integrity of staff members conducting school audits. In a statement released on Thursday, September 24, the Office emphasized that its operations are guided by core values of integrity, credibility, relevance, accountability, and independence.

The Office stated it is treating the allegations with utmost seriousness and maintains internal mechanisms to address employee misconduct. It encouraged individuals with specific complaints to use available internal channels or report allegations to independent investigative authorities, such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Regarding its school audit mandate, the Office noted that it began acting as an independent external auditor during the 2022/2023 financial year. Since that period, the audits have identified various concerns, including issues with financial record keeping, school funding, enrollment records, expenditure management, and regulatory compliance.