Audit report reveals Vt7m outstanding for Ulei School: PEO Shefa

The Principal Education Officer of Shefa Education, Elmo Joseph, has reported that an audit report on Ulei School has revealed an amount of Vt7 million has been misappropriated.

In a press statement, PEO Joseph alleged that a former principal who was suspended last September by the Teaching Service Commission, “had to be reinstated by the TSC as a teacher...so that his salaries can be deducted into Ulei school’s account”.

“But this does not rule out any investigation by the Police if he does not want to cooperate, because misappropriation of any school money is a crime,” Joseph added.

The former principal, however, refuted all the allegations, saying that they are unfounded.

The former principal who admitted that he was “unjustly” suspended last year by TSC “following pressures from the PEO Shefa himself”.

The former principal who reigns from the same island as the PEO Shefa related to Daily Post that he has done nothing wrong and he has got all the facts and evidences to prove him right.

“I must admit that this issue has stemmed from family issues and personal issues, and has got nothing to do with my profession as a former principal, but, he (PEO) is using his capacity to attack myself with intentions to ruin my integrity,” the frustrated teacher said.

The teacher said for the last 20 years at Ulei School, he has all the records to prove that there has never been any misappropriation of money, and that the school has no money owed to any business houses in Vila.

“Saying that the school has no sufficient fund to commence classes on time this year is an unacceptable excuse. I have gone through similar experiences over the past years, but, we have managed to operate the school as normal. If I had been the principal still, the school would sure open its doors on February 2 like all other schools”.

In answering claim that his salaries are being deducted towards the school’s outstanding fees amounted to “Vt600, 000”, he said while his employer (TSC) has reinstated him, he has not been told of any agreements to have his wages deducted.

The former principal also said the current school bursar has done the school report and handed it to the Shefa education office, although the PEO claimed to have not received it.

The teacher has confirmed that the case of his unjustified suspension as principal at Ulei school last year is currently with the Supreme Court. He is pursuing legal proceedings against PEO Joseph for defamation.

The PEO said he is welcome to justify this in court.

Daily Post will no longer run any article on this issue.