COPA Flags Rs. 212m School Textbook Printing Irregularities 📄

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has exposed major, long-standing financial and operational issues within the Department of Educational Publications during a review of reports from 2021 to 2024. • Financial Irregularities: A massive Rs. 212 million financial irregularity dating back to 2002 remains unresolved. The involved printing contractor and its directors currently cannot be traced. The case is under active investigation by CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption). • Legal Delays: Legal action to recover compensation from a separate printing house that delayed textbook deliveries in 2006 faces severe delays. • Inefficiencies: Inaccurate school textbook requirement estimates have led to massive surplus stocks and inflated transport costs, directly draining public funds meant for the education sector. • Systemic Reforms: To address these gaps and prevent future losses, officials have launched sweeping structural reforms. A new computerized database was introduced in 2024 to track school enrollments, textbook inventories, and reusable materials. • Tech Modernization: Future updates include fully automated procurement, warehouse management, and distribution networks. Furthermore, the ICT/BPM capabilities of the sector will be boosted by upgrading the e-Thaksalawa digital learning platform using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to guarantee higher transparency and strict quality control.