Sixty-one per cent of the Government's Cool School project, under which classrooms across the Maldives are being air-conditioned, has been completed, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday in response to a question from Hithadhoo Central Member of Parliament Ahmed Azaan regarding the installation of air conditioning at Sharafuddin School in Addu City, Dr Shafeeu said the project was launched on the instruction of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in response to long-standing public demand.
The minister said work has been completed at 61 per cent of the 217 schools included in the Cool School project. He added that work is now focused on upgrading electrical systems at the remaining schools where installations have yet to be completed.
The minister said Sharafuddin School is among those where air-conditioning units have already been installed, with work currently under way to upgrade the school's electrical network before the systems can be commissioned.
"Air-conditioning units have now been delivered to all schools awaiting completion of electrical works. Some schools only have single-phase electricity, which has caused delays," the minister said.
He added that efforts are being made to expedite the remaining work, with the aim of completing the project before the start of the second school term.
The Cool School project aims to provide a permanent solution to excessive classroom heat, improving learning conditions for students and working conditions for teachers.
Fenaka was awarded the contract to install air-conditioning systems in schools last year, with implementation of the project beginning in January this year.