Puspatri having problems with enrolment

Monday, 21 November 2011 11:53

JOHOR BARU: Several weaknesses have been identified in the management of Johor Skills Development Centre Sdn Bhd (Puspatri) from 2008 until 2010.

Among the shortcomings included its failure to attract students to enroll for the long-term courses as targeted and also, failing to implement the short-term courses as planned.

Puspatri was set up on Dec 29, 1993, and is a 75% owned subsidiary of Johor Corp with the objective to provide continuous learning opportunities for industrial workers to upgrade their skills, SPM school leavers and unemployed graduates.

According to the 2010 Auditor-General’s Report, the failure rate to enroll students for the long-term courses was between 2.7% and 100%, while failing to implement the short-term courses between 83.6% and 88.5%.

The report also revealed that the centre had charged students for registration fees and others fees although the registration fees were already included in the course fees and fully paid by the Government.

The centre also made full claims of RM0.69mil from 66 students who quit from the courses without completing their studies in those three consecutive years.

The report pointed out that teaching aid equipment worth RM0.64mil ordered by Puspatri in September last year was still not delivered to the centre.

According to the centre, the equipment could not be delivered on time as almost 90% of them were fully imported which required longer time to arrive and install; and suppliers are also having financial problems.

Operating expenditure went up from RM8.17mil in 2007, to RM8.66mil in 2008 and RM10.09mil in 2009 due to increase in staff salary, overtime payments, incentives, bonuses, payments for guest lecturers as well as student allowances.

The 2009 figure was the highest as there were two student intakes for the long term courses which saw an increase in advertisement and printing bills and payments for guest lecturers.

The centre rented 35 units of flats at Taman Cendana and 49 units at Taman Mawar in Pasir Gudang owned by the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council and turned the properties into hostels for male students.

The auditing team found that Puspatri had bought the properties worth RM9.30mil on partnership with JCorp last year with Puspatri and JCorp paying 48% and 52% of the price respectively.

Puspatri had already paid RM1.39mil or 15% of the total price while the balance of RM7.91mil was yet to be settled and the loan agreement with bank was not even signed.

According to the Sale and Purchase Agreement between the parties, the balance must be paid to the property owner within three months and penalty of 8% could be imposed on the purchasers yearly for failing to do so.

However, the centre said the process to purchase of the properties was still on-going and it would not be penalised by the owner as the case was being taken care by JCorp lawyer.

From The Star