Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum says that 80% of schools will still be under construction this month.
Sayed-Khaiyum says more than 490 schools were affected in Tropical Cyclone Winston and a total of 166 schools comprising of more than 1,500 buildings have been identified for rehabilitation.
He says that out of 1,550 buildings, 844 buildings required structural upgrading while the remaining 340 buildings required new construction.
Sayed-Khaiyum stresses that excluding Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School, 164 schools did not have any structural and architectural drawings before however it is ensured that the documentation will be provided now.
He says that a total of 36 contractors were approached for the contract.
The Minister also highlights that there is a shortage of tradesman in Fiji and this is one of the factors that may cause the delay.
He says a number of contractors have made the applications to bring tradesmen from Indonesia, Philippines and Bangladesh.
