Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said that the government’s ambitious venture to install air conditioners at all schools of the country is expected to be completed this year, under the Cool School Project.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing the  High Achievers' Awards 2024 Ceremony held to celebrate students who achieved National Top 10 and world rankings in the 2023 and 2024 O'Level and A'level examinations.

He stated that the Ministry is committed to diligently enhancing the quality of services provided to students and fostering a more supportive and comfortable environment for both students and teachers. And he emphasized that students’ outcome are closely linked to the quality of services delivered and the overall conduciveness of the school environment.

“It is difficult to study in a hot environment—it becomes tiring, drowsiness sets in, and lessons may not receive the attention they deserve. Teachers, likewise, are affected by these conditions,” he stated. “The Cool School Project is being implemented to address these challenges. Our aim is to ensure that all schools are equipped with air conditioning by the end of September, with full completion of the project anticipated before the end of the year.”

The Minister further noted that the education budget for 2025 has been increased by MVR 300 million. He added that forthcoming budget will allocate adequate funds to enhance student facilities and to fulfil key presidential pledges, including the Cool School Project, Technology Integration, and the National Program for Teacher Training, as set out in the president Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s manifesto.

The Minister affirmed that improving the quality of education is not possible without increased per-student investment. He noted that, in terms of state support, the education sector experienced its most significant improvements last year, and he expressed confidence that this progress will continue.

The High Achievers award 2024 ceremony celebrated the results of 1800 outstanding students, and awards were handed in five batches.

With the completion of the cool school project Maldives could well be the first country where all schools are airconditioned.