Education Ministry to investigate school meal tender allegations

The Ministry of Education said it will conduct a thorough investigation into allegations surrounding school meal tender procedures, with senior officials stressing that any claims of collusion or cartel behaviour must be substantiated by concrete evidence.

The ministry's commitment to examine the matter comes amid growing scrutiny of procurement practices in the education sector. Officials indicated they are prepared to work alongside relevant authorities, including the MACC, should an inquiry warrant such collaboration.

The Director-General of the Education Ministry emphasised that allegations cannot be validated without rigorous assessment of supporting facts and documentation. The ministry's response suggests a structured approach to evaluating the integrity of its tendering processes across school meal contracts nationwide.

No specific details regarding the nature or scale of the allegations have been disclosed. The investigation is expected to examine procurement procedures, bidding processes, and potential irregularities in contract awards related to school meal services.