The Minister of Education, Etmonia Tarpeh flopped before lawmakers during the 2012-2013 budget hearing at the National Legislature. Our reporter said, the Minister had a "poor presentation and failed to back monies she proposed for the ministry's allotment.

Apparently frightened, Minister Tarpeh who was invited by the Joint Committee for the first day failed to attend, but instructed her deputy Ministers, (mainly Deputy Minister for Instructions) to defend the ministry's budget without prior notice to the Lawmakers. But he was shunned by members of the Budget Committee.

Minister Tarpeh was then compelled to appear to properly defend the allotment. It was rumoured that Finance Minister Amara Konneh via mobile phone urged the Minister to appear and defend the allotment as her absence created embarrassment.

In the hall, Madam Tarpeh told the Lawmakers that she regrets her absence. However, the minister indicated that she is pleased with the increment allotted in the fiscal year for the ministry. Eventually, she pleaded with the Committee to 'see reasons for the passage of the budget'.

In this year's 2012-2013 budget, the Ministry of Finance apportioned US$66, 569, 418 million dollars for the Ministry of Education; thus amounting to 66% increment. She 'confessed' that her administration under spent last year's budget with US$ 40 million of the (2011-2012) untouched.

Her statement lead the Committee to indicate that the Ministry does not need an increment in the current budget because; monies allotted in the previous budget for the Ministry of Education were not entirely exhausted.

In his statement, Grand Bassa County Senator John Whitfield interceded: "What we are witnessing here today means that the Minister does not properly understand her own budget...she can go back with her team and perhaps, come at a later time to address the matter".

The Minister is also requesting the Legislature to approve US$1,812,581 proposed under the Ministry of Education in the 2012-2013 for vocational training with additional US$4,876,395 for what she called administration and management. But the Minister like other Ministers was asked to present her last performance reports including comprehensive plans for the execution of this year budget in line with the Public Financial Management law.