World Bank Wants Probe Into School Books Tender

By Vision Reporter THE World Bank has called for a probe into allegations of irregularities in the award of tenders for the supply of primary school textbooks. The bank’s education specialist, Mr. Paud Murphy, said the probe should be concluded fast to avoid a delay in purchasing learning materials. “We understand the IGG (Inspector General of Government) is looking into the problem and this is an independent body. But we suggest that the process should be expedited so that the procurement of the textbooks is not delayed,” Murphy said yesterday at the on-going education sector review workshop in Kampala. The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr. Francis Lubanga, promised to convey the concerns to the IGG, Mr. Jotham Tumwesigye, who last week launched investigations following complaints from four publishing houses which were disqualified from the World Bank-funded sh14b deal. Fountain Publishers, Oxford University Press (UK), Oxford University Press (EA) and Rorash Books Limited said the tender process was flawed in favour of some firms. The disgruntled publishers said some of the successful companies got conditional approval while others had theirs rejected. The education ministry in December last year invited tenders for the supply of 1.6 million primary school textbooks. Ends