Education Minister Sonia Parag has called on contractors involved in school construction to adopt innovative strategies to ensure deadlines are met, as part of a new zero-tolerance policy aimed at expediting infrastructure projects.
Speaking on the Starting Point Podcast on Friday, Minister Parag highlighted the urgent need for timely project completion to facilitate a conducive learning environment for students. The strict stance comes in response to an increasing number of extension requests and slow project completions, which hinder students’ educational opportunities.
“I’ve made it clear that if you are lagging behind and an extension has been granted, we are not looking to grant another extension. We’re actually looking to put measures in place to ensure that you complete it within a timely manner within that extension because we have children who are waiting to benefit from that,” Minister Parag stated.
In a recent example from Region One, the Minister informed that a contractor has been asked to significantly increase manpower and extend working hours to ensure project deadlines are met. Currently, the ministry oversees about 600 ongoing projects, many of which are experiencing delays.
Parag indicated that she has been actively engaging with several contractors and emphasized that while some delays may stem from factors beyond the contractors’ control, the ministry’s approach will be case-specific and may involve legal recourse if necessary.
“We are taking a zero-tolerance approach and we are taking it case by case. Some of the delays will be caused by factors that are out of the control of the contractor,” she added.
The Minister’s firm stance reflects a commitment to enhancing the education sector by ensuring that infrastructure projects are completed efficiently, allowing students to benefit from improved educational facilities without unnecessary delays.
