Government Education Grant abused and not audited for 8 years

Apia, SAMOA – 17 June 2026 – The funds available through the One Government Grant (OGG) set up to assist schools, have been abused, misspent and some school principals now face court cases over the alleged theft of the funds.

This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Aiono Prof. Alec Ekeroma in Parliament during the first day of the 2026/2027 Budget debate and he also revealed the fund had not been audited for 8 years.

The Minister was responding to the argument by former Cabinet Minister Leatinuu Wayne Fong to return the administration of the OGG under the Ministry of Education and the School Committees as it was before.

The Government recently moved the administration of OGG under the District Councils – Fono Faavae citing many issues including the abuse of funds and misdirection to things the fund was not intended for.

Leatinuu implied that governance in the Fono Faavae will make the OGG administration and expenditure worse than what it was before. He argued that at least the Ministry of Education has processes in place to trace and account for the fund’s expenses.

However, the Minister of Education, Aiono Prof. Alec Ekeroma took the floor and stated that “there is no evidence to prove the MPs argument,” and there is no evidence the OGG improved under the Ministry of Education’s watch.

The Minister then revealed that the funds had been abused and mis-spent and some school principals are facing court cases for alleged theft of the funds. He also said there had been no audit of the OGG funds in the last eight years.

Aiono said that there were only MEC processes for the fund’s monitoring of payments and expenses. Now the funds have been moved under the District Councils.

“Let’s try it under the District Councils,” the Minister said.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa supported the decision saying the Government’s policy to move the OGG under the District Councils was based on the seriousness of the issues identified and that there had been no audit for the last eight years.