Tracking Education Budget (Building, Teachers, Computers,

school meals)

Experience from the Philippines

Finance Ministry Prepares Disbursement/Fund

Release Program

Education Agency prepares Work &

Financial Plan

Program/Project/Activity

Is Implemented

Allotment Release Order is issued based

on Plan

Budget Execution

Cash is Received by implementing Agency

Reporting

First Step – Know The Budget Execution Process

Documentation FormsDocument Everything!

FIELD VISITS TO SCHOOLS

• School Principals or Head Teachers interviewed concerning the budget items to be tracked

• Relevant Documents are requested

• Dates funds received and procurement/ hiring and construction/repairs are checked

• Determine causes in cases of Delays

• Newly hired teachers are interviewed

• Parents and students interviewed for feedback and validation

• Photo documentation done

Bidding documents of Commonwealth ES school building project. The documents on the left are from the winning bidder

Plan of works provided to Sitio Buga ES school head after the project was completed under the DepEd school building project in 2007

Tender Documents

Second floor classroom of the newly constructed building in Sta Monica HS Annex

Second floor classroom showing the toilet in the newly constructed building in Sta Monica HS

Sta Monica HS Annex showing the newly constructed 2-storey building on the left as an attachment.

Condemned classrooms adjacent to rooms with on-going classes

School building in San Nicola ES with condemned rooms inhabited by snakes.

Ceiling of San Nicolas ES classroom repaired in February 2008 showing leaks.

Computer units delivered in March 2008 to San Pedro High School in Hagonoy, Bulacan under the DepEd Computerization Program

Computer unit waiting to be installed in San Pedro High School, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

NOW, THE DON’Ts

• Do not track the entire education budget; select only the critical, sensitive or suspicious

• Do not do a corruption watch; this can be another project by another coalition

• Do not cover the entire country; take only what is feasible

• Engage others to help out in the tracking exercise

• Do not do a comprehensive survey; focus on tracking.

• Don't look at just the bad side. Do an appreciative inquiry.

• Know when to back off when “sailing gets rough”