The World bank as annouced the suspension of the first tranche of $100 million towards the free school programme in DR Congo. due to corruption and fraud in the country’s education sector.
The Apex bank came to this resolution after the DRC’s Inspector General of finances “revealed a number of shortcomings and alleged cases of fraud and corruption in connection with the use of public funds in the sector, as well as weaknesses in internal controls,” the World Bank said in a statement.
“The disbursement scheduled for December is currently on hold, while the World Bank similarly exercises its own fiduciary responsibility,” the institution added, saying it was “working closely with the Congolese authorities”.
The IGF said it found fake invoices, lists of treachers stuffed with fake names working at a non-existence school and also an embezzlement of 63 billion Congolese francs equivalent of $31 million.
Sources from the Trade Union told Newsmen that two senior civil servants of the education sector singled out by the reports, including the head of teacher’s payroll were in pre-detention.
The free school program was estimated to cost $2.6 billion when it was launched, more than one-third of the DRC’s annual budget for 2021 — even as other public goods like hospitals and roads are lacking.