VietNamNet Bridge – Mr. Ngo Huu Dang, Director of the Project Management Unit of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ngai province, has been sacked for building school toilets at high prices.



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The VND600 million toilet in Long Hiep primary school in Quang Ngai province.

 

In June 2013, some newspapers raised their doubt of corruption related to some school toilets in Quang Ngai.

According to the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ngai, from 2010 to 2015, schools in the provinces need 723 water supply works and toilets. Since 2010, 21 water supply and toilet projects at schools have been implemented by the department’s Project Management Unit. The projects are under the national program on clean water and sanitation in rural areas, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The capital for each work is over VND500 million ($25,000).

Although school toilets were built in the common design of the Ministry of Education and Training, the cost for design and consultation is declared at tens of millions dong for each project.

Questions against these projects were raised when a newly-built VND600 million ($30,000) toilet in a secondary school in Quang Ngai was seriously degraded. Based on the market price, the toilet is only worth one fifth of the above cost.

Mr. Do Van Phu, deputy director of the Department of Education - Training of Quang Ngai explained that the construction cost of school toilets accounted for only one third of the total investment capital. The remaining amount was for water supply, consulting, geological survey, design, etc.

The public also complained of waste when a primary school in Quang Ngai is reported to have two toilets worth over VND1 billion ($50,000) while the classrooms are very old and small.

Phu admitted his “shortcomings” for loose coordination with the school toilet project management unit which led to the waste and promised to better manage the program. Phu also claimed to inspect all water supply and toilet projects at schools. Inspection revealed that all projects committed violations in design, construction and supervision.

On December 18, the Department of Education - Training of Quang Ngai province announced to dismiss Dang for his mistakes in building expensive school toilets and to reprimand the Project Management Unit’s deputy chief – Mr. Le Van Phong.

The corruption money is being revoked.

Le Ha