Education Minister Maryann Hanson said Monday that the Venezuelan government is currently developing a plan to build 1,200 schools over the next five years.

The announcement came during the celebration of the 36-year anniversary of the Foundation for Educational Buildings and Resources (known by its initials in Spanish as FEDES), the agency responsible for construction projects in Venezuela’s public schools.

“Under the revolution we have been creating new construction systems and perfecting preventative maintenance. We have also built new school infrastructure,” Hanson said.

The minister recalled that all construction projects in schools must be approved by FEDES, which is an agency under the Ministry of Education.

“All the state and municipal governments that carry out improvements [to educational facilities] should approach FEDES so it can give the go-ahead for the project,” she said.

AVN / YVKE / Press – Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / May 15, 2012