PHIRI

By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –

GOVERNMENT has signed performance contracts with five science and technology institutions in which the institutions will be monitored on their spending of public funds.
Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education John Phiri said performance contracts were cardinal as they served as tools for monitoring and evaluation of the performance of institutions in the education sector.
The five institutions are the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the National Biotechnology Authority (NBA), National Technology Business Centre (NTBC), the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR).
“The signing process should be done at the beginning of each year. These performance contracts are based on the annual work plan and budgets approved by the Ministry.
“Therefore, this process is very important for Government in monitoring how institutions are spending taxpayers’ resources,” he said.
Dr Phiri said the contracts would also determine the achievements for each and identify challenges that needed attention.
Speaking when he signed the agreements, the minister instructed all institutions under the Ministry to sign a performance contract annually, to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation process.
Dr Phiri said his Ministry expected the five institutions to fulfill their mandates and contribute to socio economic development through service provision, research, development, and wealth and job creation.
The five institutions’ mandates include, among other things, regulation of research in science and technology in Zambia, the promotion of locally developed technologies and promote geographic information system technology and applications in Zambia.