MFA Press Statement: MOU Signing Ceremony and Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Integrated School Project in the Maldives on 3 October 2005

Minister of State for Education and Trade and Industry Mr Chan Soo Sen and Maldives Deputy Minister of Education Mr Abdul Muhsin Mohamed officiated the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of an integrated primary and secondary school on Hulhumale Island on 3 October 2005. The school will serve about 1,050 students and is designed like a 'Big House', modelled on Singapore's style of functional planning, cross-ventilated classrooms facing courtyards, flexible use of common areas, ample and safe playing areas as well as outdoor learning spaces. Singapore will provide training for the teachers at this school.

"My family and I were in the Maldives end of last year. We had a wonderful holiday enjoying the beautiful beaches and the sea. We left after an excellent Christmas dinner, arrived at Singapore just as the tsunami hit the Maldives. I am therefore most happy today to represent the government and people of Singapore in offering support to the government and people of the Maldives in your reconstruction effort.", said Mr Chan at the ground breaking ceremony.

After the ground breaking ceremony, the Singapore Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Maldivian Government to implement Singapore's post-tsunami reconstruction projects for the Maldives in Male, the capital of the Maldives. High Commissioner (Non-Resident) to the Maldives Mr Tan Kah Hoe represented the Singapore Government in signing the MOU while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Aminath Didi represented the Maldivian Government.

Apart from the school, Singapore will also enhance the water distribution network on Gan Island, as well as train Maldivian officials who are operating the Singapore-donated desalination plant and healthcare workers of a regional Maldivian hospital looking after tsunami displaced persons.

The projects in the Maldives are estimated to cost a total of US$4.4 million (S$7.3 million) and are scheduled to be completed by March 2007. The Singapore Government is partnering the Singapore Red Cross Society on the reconstruction projects for the Maldives.

Mr Chan was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Building and Construction Authority, the school project consultants led by the Singapore Institute of Architects with members from the Construction Industry Joint Committee, and the water distribution network project consultant, the Public Utilities Board.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
4 OCTOBER 2005