KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Firms that failed to comply with guidelines set by the Education Ministry in supplying security guards for schools are likely to be blacklisted, The Star reported today.

Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the ministry were taking seriously the Auditor-General’s comments in his annual report, which included the poor implementation of security standards by contracted firms at schools.

The report stated that among other infractions, guards were sometimes above the age limit and had not passed background and health checks. Entry and exit points of schools were also not properly monitored.

The A-G's report also stated the Education Ministry approved contracts without proper checking of documents, even paying contractors who had not delivered as promised. RM2.051 billion has been spent of the RM3.69 billion allocated to the ministry between 2010 and last year.