Ministry of Higher Education has contracted Villa Educational Services Private Limited to build and operate a polytechnic institute in Thulusdhoo, Kaafu Atoll.
The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary of the Higher Education Ministry Fathimath Hilmy and Vice-Rector of Villa Education Services Dr. Ali Najeeb. Under the agreement, the company will build the polytechnic institute within 27 months and operate it for 50 years under a Finance and Operate Public Private Partnership model.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan said this was the first time the government has hired a contractor to build a polytechnic institute under a Finance and Operate Public Private Partnership model. He noted the support provided by the Thulusdhoo Island Council and parliamentary representative for the initiative and expressed hope that the institute will provide training and employment opportunities for the youth. Parliamentarian Ibrahim Naseem said the agreement is a huge development for water sports in the Maldives.
The higher education ministry stated the polytechnic institute in Thulusdhoo will provide courses related to water sports and tourism, and that it will also have the capacity to conduct vocational courses for various fields. The polytechnic institute will be built on 33,000sqft of land with 1,208sqft of land from the beachfront dedicated to water sports training. The institute will have a separate institute block and accommodation block. It will have a tourist facility, six classrooms, an information and communications technology (ICT) laboratory, an auditorium, and a library. It will also consist of an administrative room, student service area, meeting rooms, and study rooms, as well as an activity centre, and prayer room.