Cool School Project Completed in 61% of Schools, Education Minister Says

The government’s “Cool School” project has been completed in 61 per cent of schools across the Maldives, with air conditioning installation expected to be finished in the majority of remaining schools by the start of the second term, Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said.

Responding to a question from Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq during Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, Shafeeu said air conditioning units had been installed in 61 per cent of the country’s 217 schools.

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He said work is continuing to upgrade the electrical grids of the remaining schools and confirmed that all required air conditioning units have already been delivered to the respective schools. He added that the government aims to complete installations in the majority of schools by the beginning of the second term, despite ongoing challenges. However, he did not provide a timeline for the project’s full completion.

The “Cool School” initiative was launched on 2 June 2024 to improve classroom conditions in government schools through the installation of air conditioning units.

In January last year, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing the project and set a target of finishing the work by September, estimating that it would take no more than eight months.

To support implementation, the government awarded Fenaka Corporation the contract for the installation work in June last year. Despite these efforts, the project was not completed within the previously announced timeframe.

The initiative is expected to increase electricity consumption in schools. The Education Ministry has previously estimated that electricity costs will rise by around 38 per cent once all air conditioning systems are operational. To reduce the impact of higher energy demand, the government plans to meet at least 30 per cent of schools’ electricity requirements through renewable energy sources.