"Some parents choose to contribute to the school out of a desire to benefit their children and their islands. The ministry will not prevent such voluntary actions but will ensure that no parent is compelled to pay for such activities," the minister added.
Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu said that parents are not being charged for air-conditioning classrooms under the ministry's instructions.
Ministry of Education’s "Cool School" project launched last June, aims to air-condition classrooms in all government schools within two years.
Despite the project's launch, complaints have surfaced regarding some schools asking parents to contribute funds for the installation of air conditioners.
In an interview with Mihaaru News last Wednesday, Minister Shafeeu stated that these requests were not made with the knowledge or instruction of the Ministry of Education.
The minister explained that, according to Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) officials at some schools, the funds for installing AC units are being raised by the PTAs themselves.
"I spoke with a PTA vice-president who was unhappy about these stories circulating on social media and in the news. He [PTA vice president] said that it was something they are doing on their own initiative for the children," the minister said.
Minister Shafeeu highlighted that while parents may hold different opinions, no parent will be forced to contribute financially to the school. The minister emphasized that a strong "parent-school relationship" is one of the hallmarks of a successful school, and parents who understand this often try to support their schools in various ways.
"Some parents choose to contribute to the school out of a desire to benefit their children and their islands. The ministry will not prevent such voluntary actions but will ensure that no parent is compelled to pay for such activities," the minister added.
"No parent will be forced to fund an AC or provide books and pencils. The ministry has instructed schools not to request parents for expensive items, which is also prohibited," he said.
The minister also noted that the government's project to air-condition all schools has increased state expenditure by 38 percent, with 30 percent of the project to be powered by renewable energy.
The initiative is being carried out with the support of the government and private sector, focused on identifying schools where solar panels can be installed cost-effectively.
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