Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has stated that USD2 million has been allocated for the renovation of school buildings.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Shafeeu said last year, state funds were allocated for the construction of new schools but not for renovation work. However, he said that USD2 million has been allocated for the renovation of schools this year and that the work will begin after identifying the repairs that are needed at the schools. He said that the ministry has evaluated the condition of all schools, and that the highest priority would be to solve the issues that hinder safety and satisfaction at schools.
As such, Minister Shafeeu said that renovations will commence at a reasonable pace once the funds are available. He detailed that priority would be given to immediate repairs, such as fixing a damaged roof that is leaking water into the classroom or fixing broken windows. He also said that when the new administration assumed office, 107 projects had already been initiated in schools in different parts of the country.
However, Minister Shafeeu said many of the projects have been stalled due to non-payment to contractors. He also said that President Muizzu has approved payments totaling USD3.6 million to the contractors to complete the projects. He expressed confidence that the stalled projects in Male' and the atolls will be conducted at a fast pace this month.
Additionally, Minister Shafeeu said there are design problems in some of the new projects, and that the main issue is the lack of school infrastructure designing standards at the ministry. However, he said the ministry will collaborate with the Maldives Association of Construction Industry and the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure on formulating standards for school building construction.
The previous government awarded contractors to carry out a number of projects in various schools. These include the construction of classrooms and multipurpose halls. However, many projects have been stalled due to various issues.