Over the former period, the government of Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024) only rescued 4,992 schools, 1,456 in the first year, 554 in the second and 2,982 in the third, the media outlet detailed quoting reports.

It indicated that the total amount invested by the current authorities in the Ministry of Education, amounts to almost 73 million dollars, while the three abovementioned yearsonly came close to 45 million dollars.

The government led by President Bernardo Arévalo and Vice-President Karin Herrera hopes to refurbish 35,922 school buildings by 2028, the daily said.

Improvements implemented so far this year demonstrate the urgency to tackle the issue, after years of neglection, said the technical vice-minister of the educational portfolio Francisco Cabrera.

What we found was extreme deterioration, which implies security risks for students and teachers, said the official, quoted by the newspaper.

In addition, it affects the learning processes, which is why Arévalo ordered to apply a plan of throughout renovations, said Cabrera.

Pending tasks include repairing walls, roofs, bathrooms, floors, doors, windows, water pipes, drains, electricity and painting.

He said that there is an additional program to erect new school buildings, to be completed in the next few years.

Education Minister, Anabella Giracca, said earlier that they had found 5,300 schools with no running water, more than 21,000 other lacking drainage, 8,587 without electricity, 19,000 without doors and windows, 12,000 with damaged walls and 17,000 with leaks on the roofs.

Ied/ro/znc