The results of the state audit of NIS activities were summed up in the Supreme Audit Chamber

The results of the state performance audit of the use of budgetary funds in the Autonomous Educational Organization "Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools" for 2019-2023 were considered at a meeting of the Supreme Audit Chamber.

As noted by the Member of the SAC Mr. Nurlan Nurzhanov, over the past years, NIS has achieved a number of positive results: a large team of professional teachers has been assembled, competencies have been developed, effective teaching methods have been created, scientific research has been established. However, there are significant problems and shortcomings in the dissemination of modern curricula and successful experience to the entire secondary education system.

In general, during the reporting period, 250 billion tenge was allocated from the budget for the operation of NIS, including over 22 billion for broadcasting experience. At the same time, there is currently no clear definition of the role of NIS in the state planning system. In particular, programs, national projects and concepts do not identify specific tasks, functions and indicators that should be achieved as a result of the dissemination of experience.

An important part of this is the introduction of textbooks developed by NIS into secondary schools. But of the more than 3 thousand textbooks approved by the relevant ministry for the educational process, the share of NIS accounts for only 67 or 2%. Thus, the existing potential of the organization for the development of the secondary education system is not fully used.

During the meeting, the Сhairman of the SAC, Mr. Alikhan Smailov, emphasized that the results achieved in this direction do not correspond to the amount of funding allocated.

"The entire budget, for example, of the Ulytau region, is less than has been allocated to NIS in 5 years. Including more than 22 billion for broadcasting experience. No matter how you look at the statistics, unfortunately there are no significant changes. Moreover, it is not even targeted within the framework of the state planning system," he said.

As follows from the audit opinion, the NIS financing mechanism as a whole does not ensure transparency, accountability and targeted use of funds. It was established that the NIS has planned events that were not actually carried out. In 2019-2023, the volume of unfulfilled activities amounted to about 8 billion tenge.

At the same time, the possibility of transferring unused funds to subsequent financial years led to the formation of significant amounts of budget balances, which were not always taken into account in the new budget planning. So, for 3 years, NIS has not disbursed funds in the amount of 16.4 billion tenge, and balances in the amount of 27 to 55 billion tenge have accumulated annually in bank accounts.

Violations of 10.5 billion tenge were noted for the conducted purchases of NIS. For example, there have been cases of unlawful use of the procurement method from a single source in the amount of more than 1 billion tenge, unjustified admission or rejection of applications, etc. In addition, based on data from the State Revenue Committee and commercial proposals from third-party organizations, the facts of the purchase of goods at an inflated cost have been established.

About 2 billion tenge was allocated for the development of the information and educational environment in NIS. However, at the time of the audit, key business processes were not automated: competitive selection, certification, etc.

In general, the state audit established:

• financial violations for 274.4 million tenge;
• inefficient planning for 8.3 billion tenge;
• inefficient use is about 6 billion tenge.

In addition, 134 procedural violations and 30 systemic deficiencies were identified.

As a result of the audit measures, 1 material was sent to law enforcement agencies, and 10 more facts with signs of administrative offenses were sent to authorized bodies to initiate administrative proceedings. Summing up the meeting, Mr. Alikhan Smailov stressed that NIS needs to justify all requested funds from the budget with the application of specific calculations. The requirements for AEO should be the same as for administrators of budget programs. At the same time, the shortcomings that the audit revealed should be worked out and eliminated. This issue will be under the control of the SAC.

For information: violations and shortcomings identified by the state audit in the activities of AEO "NIS" relate to financial, economic and organizational issues, without affecting the educational process in schools.