Authorities in Ahmedabad have expressed serious concern over the lack of action against grant-in-aid schools that have failed to carry out mandatory financial audits, highlighting administrative apathy at the district level.
Notices Issued to 153 Schools
The district education officer (DEO) in Ahmedabad has issued strict notices to 153 granted secondary and higher secondary schools for failing to complete their required accounting audits. The list of non-compliant institutions includes several prominent schools such as CU Shah HSC School, New Sarvodaya High School, Mirambika Girls School, and Swastik Vidyavihar.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Officials have warned that if schools fail to complete audits within the stipulated timeframe, the management bodies or principals will be held responsible for the payment of staff salaries. Following directives from the commissioner of schools, these institutions have been directed to clear their pending audits by attending a special audit camp scheduled between May 7 and May 30. The camp will be organized at the Government Girls School in Raikhad, where audit teams will be present to facilitate the process.
Authorities have further warned that non-compliance within the stipulated period will invite strict action, including the suspension of maintenance grants and grants meant for staff salaries.
Widespread Negligence Across Districts
The commissioner's office has observed that several districts have displayed serious negligence in initiating action against schools that have avoided audits. A large number of grant-in-aid schools across the state, including many in Ahmedabad, have not completed audits for the financial year 2022-23. In certain cases, audit backlogs extend beyond a decade, with records from 2005-06 and 2010-11 remaining unverified.
Impact on Financial Transparency
Officials stressed that the absence of regular audits affects financial transparency and accountability, making it difficult to ascertain the utilization of government funds. During a recent video conference, state authorities instructed district officials to take stringent measures against schools that continue to default.
The education department has emphasized that timely audits are crucial for ensuring proper use of public funds and maintaining the integrity of the grant-in-aid system. Schools are urged to comply with the audit requirements to avoid any disruption in their operations and funding.
