Much expected from new Education Company

MUCH is expected of the new Education Facilities Company Ltd, as the nine-member board of directors yesterday received letters of appointment and their mandate from Minister in the Ministry of Finance Christine Sahadeo and Education Minister Hazel Manning. During a ceremony at the Ministry of Finance office in Port-of-Spain, Manning reminded the directors they had responsibility for the construction and management of projects of the ministry.

She said much was expected of them and through their work, “we expect to bring levels of comfort not only to our teachers and students, but also to parents and communities,” Manning said. She added that the ministry expected the directors to “devise systems and procedures to ensure that physical plant and equipment are provided, protected and maintained. “We look forward to accounting to the nation for this significant investment of taxpayers’ money.”

The ministry was criticised by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in February for not delivering projects. It was at that time the PM announced the formation of several companies to assist ministries in achieving their goals. Sahadeo agreed that systems in the public sector “are not geared for delivery” and said much more will be done by State enterprises through public and private sector participation. She reminded the directors of the need to maintain transparency in their operations and said all contracts over $5 million must be submitted to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

Sahadeo said there is currently a green paper out on the procurement procedures to promote greater accountability and transparency. Some priority projects identified by the Education Ministry included the design and construction of 43 early childhood care and education centres, design and construction of 17 new primary schools — ten Government and seven denominational. Consultancies for the design of nine Government schools are now being evaluated.