Audit Reveals Management Degrees Dominate State-Funded Scheme Amid $1.2 Million Loss

A majority of students enrolled in the government’s free degree scheme between 2019 and 2024 pursued management and administrative studies, according to a recent audit by the Auditor General’s Office. Out of 16,388 students granted higher education opportunities, 38 percent chose management and administration, followed by education at 17 percent and accounting and taxation at 9 percent. The audit highlights a significant preference for private institutions, with 73 percent of beneficiaries attending private colleges and 27 percent enrolling in the two state universities. Demographically, women comprised 65 percent of the participants, while men accounted for 35 percent. Students aged 19 to 21 made up 34 percent of total enrollments. Auditors noted a structural gap in the system that contributed to lower male participation. While 68 percent of male beneficiaries were drawn to technical tracks, these vocational programs lacked Level 7 bachelor's degree equivalency, limiting the available degree-level options for men. Financial oversight revealed critical fiscal leakages within the USD 54.15 million total spend. The Auditor General’s Office identified USD 1.23 million spent on 790 students who withdrew from their courses without completing their degrees—funds that the state failed to recover. Additionally, USD 609,597.92 was improperly disbursed to 271 individuals who already held degrees. The trend toward administrative studies has intensified over the last six years. Management intakes doubled from 516 in 2019 to 1,030 in 2024. Conversely, enrollment in teacher preparation programs saw a decline, dropping to 295 students in 2024.