ABSTRACT
Money is the lifeblood of all economic activity, and procurement is the process whereby it is translated into the goods and services needed to achieve economic objectives. This applies to the education sector as well as all the other economic sectors. When procurement is conducted with integrity and transparency, it ensures that those objectives can be achieved in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. When private individuals procure goods and services for themselves, they will always attempt to obtain the best quality for the best price. When public officials procure goods and services within corrupt environments, however, obtaining the best quality for the best price is rarely a primary concern. Rather, officials may be tempted to maximise their access to bribes and kickbacks. In this way, procurement becomes the gateway to fraud and corruption.
