Education Minister confirms clearance of outstanding bills, USD 2.21 million remains

Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has stated that all but USD 2.21 million of the outstanding bills of the educational projects have been cleared. Speaking on a special programme of PSM News, the Education Minister elaborated on the challenges faced by the education sector when the current government assumed office. He highlighted that several projects in the sector had been handed over to various companies, but payments for these projects had not been made. As such, disclosed that outstanding bills amounted to USD 18.18 million, and noted that the most pressing concern is to find a way to settle these dues and ensure the swift continuation of these projects. The minister reassured that the outstanding USD 2.21 million would be cleared before the end of the year. The projects in question include the construction of classrooms and multipurpose halls. Minister Ismail Shafeeu also pointed out that the 2024 budget had not allocated sufficient funds for these initiatives. According to financial regulations, 15% of the total project cost should be paid when a new contract is awarded. Unfortunately, many of the projects have received insufficient funding, complicating the payment process even when the work has been formally awarded. Despite these challenges, the Minister emphasized that ongoing works, including those for schools, are being completed without significant difficulty. He also noted that the previous administration had launched over 100 educational projects, including the construction of classrooms and multipurpose halls. However, some of these projects are facing delays or have been stalled.