Audit authorities in Guangdong
Province submitted its annual report to the Standing Committee
of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress yesterday. More than
10.6 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) in public funds was misused last
year.
Zeng Shouxi, head of the provincial audit department, pointed
that more than 10.6 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) in public funds
was misused in Guangdong last year.
The figure was reported to be the lowest since 2001.
The report submitted to the Standing Committee covered 32
projects involving 4,040 government departments and institutions
that operate on public funds.
According to the report, 15 departments under the provincial
government prepared a budget for 8.507 billion yuan for 2004, 1.1
billion yuan more than their actual expenditure.
Further, an audit of 66 State-funded elementary and high schools
revealed that sponsorships and donations worth 753 million yuan
(US$92.84 million) were registered in different names. Such fees,
donations and sponsorships made up 54 percent of the total income
of the 66 public schools.
Zeng pointed out that the fees, donations and sponsorships in
the 66 public schools that were audited were poorly managed.
Provincial authorities allow certain senior high schools to levy
fees ranging from 23,000 yuan (US$2,840) to 40,000 yuan (US$4,930)
for a three-year course of study on students who fail to attain the
necessary qualifications but who still want to attend classes.
But such students must account for no more than 25 percent of
the total number of students in the school, and their exam results
must still be close to the base line.
The province does not allow any junior high school or
preliminary school to levy such fees, but donations and
sponsorships are accepted.
About half of the fees are set aside for schools, and the rest
goes to the local education authorities to help poorer schools.
(China Daily, Shenzhen Daily July 28,
2005)