The Liquiça Municipal Education Service (SEML) has identified 63 schools that need renovation or new construction because the condition of their buildings poses a risk to students and teachers.
SEML Director Júlio da Silva said the 63 schools were in serious disrepair and included preschools, basic education schools, general secondary schools and technical and vocational secondary schools.
“These 63 schools need building work, including renovation and new construction,” he said by phone.
He said SEML had asked the Ministry of Education (ME) to intervene quickly before the rainy and windy season because the condition of the schools’ put lives at risk.
“We need to provide a safe place for our children so they can learn without being exposed to unforeseen risks,” Director Silva said.
He said schools in Liquiça Municipality were also facing a lack of facilities in addition to the poor condition of their buildings.
“Most of these schools are in remote areas and are very far apart,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares said the 63 schools in Liquiça Municipality were already on a nationwide list of 1,000 schools scheduled for construction work.
“We will work through the list in stages according to the budget available to the ministry, but we will try to deal first with the schools in the worst condition,” she said.
She said the work would address schools in poor condition and those with too few classrooms across the country.
“These schools will be completed and provided with facilities such as desks to support students in their learning,” Minister Soares said.She said work had begun at some schools and had yet to start at others, but the government had promised to finish it quickly for the benefit of students.
