The Government has completed the installation of air conditioning systems in 61 per cent of schools under the Cool School project, with work continuing to equip the remaining schools before the start of the second term of the current academic year.

Providing an update in Parliament, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr Ismail Shafeeu said the project is being implemented across 217 schools nationwide. He said efforts are currently focused on upgrading electricity networks in schools where existing infrastructure is not capable of supporting air conditioning systems.

Minister Dr Shafeeu noted that many school buildings across the Maldives are 30 to 40 years old, with older single-phase electrical systems making the installation of air conditioning more challenging. Despite those constraints, he said the Government remains on track to complete the project before the second term begins.

The Minister said the Cool School project was introduced following concerns raised by teachers and students over classroom conditions, with the aim of creating a more comfortable learning environment and improving the quality of teaching and learning across the country.

He also noted that installing air conditioning in schools was previously not permitted, adding that principals who independently installed units had faced action under the previous policy.

Fenaka Corporation, which is carrying out electricity network upgrades under the project, has already distributed the air conditioning units to islands where installations are pending and expects work to be completed before the end of the second term.