Fonseca Sets The Record Straight

Education minister Francis Fonseca is disputing a report from the public service audit team.

Last night we reported that in its final report the audit team singled out Fonseca and his Ministry of Education for spending 95% of their $123 million budget on salaries. The report which 7NEWS obtained, said "too large a proportion, an estimated 95% of recurrent budget goes to salaries and emoluments."

Today Fonseca set the record straight saying that actually 78% and not 95% is spent on salaries. Fonseca says that the rest - 17% - is spent on tuition for primary, secondary and tertiary students and another $7.5 million goes to helping UB with financial assistance. The remaining 5% is spent on programs.