Dr. Sisay Kirubel, President of Tonderay Technical University (TTU), put out a fiery press release today alleging unjustifiable differences in government grants awarded to each of Sabmadi’s various research institutes.
Planned expansion of the new West-Nang Cao Campus of the University of Tonderay, mostly funded by the Sabmadi Endowment for the Sciences, credit: Mohammed Mubarak.
Kirubel’s claims are based on a third party statistical analysis which claims that certain universities, such as the Sabmadi Institute of Technology (SIT) and University of Tonderay (UT), have received outsized funding in comparison to their research output, when compared to smaller institutes like TTU.
The report stops short of accusations of favoritism or corruption among funding agencies. Meanwhile, Kirubel has gone further, claiming that this study reflects a larger trend in the mismanagement of government resources in higher education.
Most university research grants are awarded by the Sabmadi Endowment for the Sciences, which is an Office within the larger Department of Science and Technology (DS&T). This organisation has funded groundbreaking research for decades through an innovative mixture of public and private patronage.
Kirubel’s report was released a few days before the death of the previous DS&T Director. Director Gor Tenga could not be reached for comment at the time, as he was abroad representing Sabmadi at a congressional policy debate. He unfortunately passed during his return voyage from Sagallo. Assistant Director Alastair Singh currently serves as the interim leader of the department.
Singh was incensed by the allegations, and wrote that “such bureaucratic malfeasance would be an outrage demanding prosecution to the full extent of the law.” However, he denounced Kirubel and her claims, writing “The facts clearly indicate that there was no such wrongdoing. The late Director Gor Tenga was incorruptible, and I for one feel that for President Kirubel to make these claims so soon after Director Tenga’s passing reeks of opportunism.”
It is unclear whether any internal DS&T investigation has been conducted or is planned.
Selwyn Greyheart-Sultana, Director of the Department of Health and Education (DHE), echoed Director Singh’s sentiments that he was “appalled by any possibility of wrong-doing.” However, Greyheart-Sultana did not dismiss Kirubel’s allegations, promising to personally look into the claims.
Greyheart-Sultana concluded his statement by explaining the complexities of the situation:
I would like to remind my fellow Sabmadians that the funding we provide must be carefully balanced, as there is not an infinite supply and the amount can and will change over time. From the great labs of Tonderay University to the farthest flung research outposts across Ziva, the DHE must consider what most needs support for the potential betterment of our Republic and our lives. Of course, we are only mortal and, as such, we are flawed, as can be any organization. Agendas can form, people can act out of greed or malice, and it is possible that actions are taken which are meant to help but end up as harm. To ensure that the flow of knowledge continues to the best of everyone’s abilities, I ask for patience as my department begins its internal inquiry.
Comments