Lawmakers postpone Education budget review

A parliamentary committee was yesterday forced to postpone the Education budget review after officials appeared unprepared to go into the nitty-gritty of the budgetary execution.The scheduled review was part of the general sectoral budgetary review by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and National Patrimony.After Education Minister Dr. Vincent Biruta, presented an overview of his ministry’s broad policy programmes, MPs sought precise details from individual agencies and institutions affiliated to the ministry.MPs wanted to know how the agencies spent their previous budgetary allocations, details on the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF), gender budget statements, what was planned and achieved in their previous budget as well as the challenges encountered.However, the minister said there was a miscommunication as his team was not informed of what was required. Biruta was accompanied by State Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Dr. Mathias Harebamungu, Permanent Secretary, Sharon Haba, and over 17 top officials from agencies affiliated to the ministry and public institutions of higher learning.“We have to hear details. We want to know how they used their budget last year,” said Constance Rwaka Mukayuhi, the committee chairperson.The lawmakers explained that the officials have to clearly show how funds provided in the previous budget were used before more money is allocated.Figures from the ministry indicate that in the 2011/12 fiscal year, the ministry’s share of the national cake was Rwf191 billion (17 percent) while in the proposed budget for 2012-13, the sector is allocated Mukayuhi reminded the Education officials of the format required and the committee set June 19 as the date for the ministry to appear before the Committee.