Never ending conflict about the schoolbooks fiasco

The Court of Auditors found the cost of purchasing paper for the issuing of schoolbooks increased by 20% compared to the originally estimated value. Also, the Supreme Court found financial irregularities in the evaluation of tenders by the selection board. As was discovered, pensioners who appeared as active employees took part in the committee, while active employees were excluded because they were supposedly retired.

These are the reasons that the famous competition for the supply of paper was "cut" by the selection board, while according to the Financial Supreme Court, education minister Diamantopoulou had been aware of these shortcomings since early last April.

According to sources, the issuing committee of the Educational Book Publishing Organization was elected by decree on April 21, 2010.

The decision of the development ministry came in early July, under which the tender would be made ​​by the education ministry and not by the General Secretariat of Commerce. This process was completed on March 2, 2011.

In early April, the 6th team of Auditors carried out the pre-contractual issuing of a relevant decision (22/2011).

Meanwhile, Diamantopoulou was briefed on the procedural problems and was asked to deal with them in order for the contest to continue after a new judicial ruling. However, information indicates that she did not respond.

Instead, the education ministry came back with a new application that was discussed on May 6, 2011, and four days later filed the relevant memo. On June 2, however, part of the Court ruled the contract illegal. The decision was reported to the minister on July 12, 2011.

The Minister had been informed in a timely manner on the second negative decision by the selection board, even verbally, by July 5. Nevertheless, she urged them to hurry…

Justice minister Miltiades Papaioannou had something to say about the issue. When asked about statements by the education minister that the "fiasco" with the delay in the distribution of schoolbooks was the responsibility of the selection board, he said that he has received the minister’s report and file on all the aspects of the case. "The file surprised me in a negative way about the selection board. I am meeting with president Karavokiris tomorrow, and I will be informed. The issue remains open."