Villingili school block burns: Ministry replaces books and laptops ahead of reopening

The staff room block of G.A. Atoll Education Centre in Villingili will reopen on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Education and the school administration.

A fire broke out at around 12:15am on Friday, burning the primary teachers’ staff room, printing room and smart classroom. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 1:26am and fully extinguished it at 2:50am, according to MNDF.

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu told Sun on Sunday that temporary arrangements have been made to relocate the staff room and printing room to the teachers’ resource building. He said the ministry is working to ensure teachers are not burdened by the disruption.

“I have instructed the relevant units to work together and send the necessary machinery and all equipment before the school reopens,” he said.

The school requires new printing machines, photocopiers, computers and books to replace those destroyed in the fire. The minister said arrangements are being made to ensure operations continue smoothly.

Principal Thamheen said on Saturday that classroom spaces were unaffected and that an alternative space for the printing room has already been prepared. Equipment for the printing room is expected to arrive on the next supply vessel to Villingili.

Textbooks and monitor books have now been provided for students, along with two laptops for teachers and new systems for leading teachers, he said.

Some teachers lost laptops, computers and soft teaching materials stored in the staff room at the time of the fire, he added.