The Ministry of Education has dismissed the presidents of three universities following allegations of fund embezzlement.
This decision comes after a review by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Budget and Financial Affairs, which scrutinized the implementation of the Ministry of Finance’s nine-month plan and identified significant budget mismanagement within the universities.
During a performance review with the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Finance revealed that the presidents of Wolaita Sodo University, Gambella University, and Mizan-Tepi University were removed from their positions due to findings from an audit.
Additionally, Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology, Debre Berhan University, and four other universities received warnings.
The Federal Auditor General’s Office reported that 13 of the 24 institutions flagged for objectionable comments in the 2022 fiscal year Institutional Audit Report were universities.
Minister of finance, Ahmed Shide informed the Standing Committee that as a consequence of these findings, the presidents of Wolaita Sodo, Gambella, and Mizan-Tepi Universities were dismissed.
Furthermore, serious written warnings were issued to the presidents of Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology, Debre Berhan University, Addis Ababa University, Jinka University, and Bule Hora University.
Two months ago, during a budget audit review conducted with the House of Representatives, Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology was highlighted for discrepancies involving 18 teachers sent for third-degree education.
The president of the university, Dr. Dereje Engeda, explained that these teachers, who were sent to both foreign and domestic universities for their doctoral studies, failed to complete their studies within the stipulated time frame.
According to university regulations, a doctoral program should be completed within four years, with a possible extension of two years for exceptional circumstances. However, some teachers did not finish even within the extended six-year period.
Dr. Engeda noted that five of the 18 teachers are confirmed to be abroad, and legal action is being taken to recover the funds spent on their education, including sponsorship, salary, and transportation costs.
For the remaining 15 teachers who are still in the country but are not employed by any institution, their salaries and jobs have been suspended. Efforts to recover the misallocated funds are ongoing.
