Minister: Education Min. debt at MVR 120M when govt. assumed office

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu, underscoring that the Education Ministry’s debt stood at MVR 120 million when the new administration assumed office, said the extensive debt had stalled many projects within the education sector.

Minister Shafeeu is accompanying President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on a tour of the southernmost atolls of the Maldives. Speaking at GDh. Gadhdhoo, his native island, as part of the tour on Wednesday, the Minister stressed that most projects within the education sector had come to a halt at the conclusion of the previous administration’s five-year term.

He attributed this to the Ministry’s failure to pay the contractors and its accumulating debt.  

However, Minister Shafeeu said that the new administration, since assuming office, has settled MVR 50 million of the MVR 120 million debt of the Education Ministry.

“Through the efforts and guidance of our President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, we have paid MVR 50 million to contractors as of present,” he said.

Preparations were being made to repay an additional MVR 43 million, he added.

Minister Shafeeu affirmed that the administration was undertaking all efforts to ensure the completion of the education sector projects at the earliest. He also affirmed that the administration will undertake all efforts necessary to further strengthen the education sector.