Kevin Mazur, WireImage
Madonna's charity teamed up with the non-profit school-building organization, buildOn, to construct 10 new primary schools for over 4,800 students in rural villages. After construction was complete in December 2012, Madonna released a statement on the Raising Malawi website.
"I am overjoyed that my commitment along with buildOn's to help educate the children of Malawi has come to fruition," the singer said. "The fact that more than 4,800 children in Malawi will get to go to school next year is a tremendous step forward for their individual growth and the growth of Malawi."
However, Malawian Education Minister Eunice Kazembe tells the U.K.'s The Independent that the pop star has been misleading the public about the reality of her involvement in the new schools.
"The schools Raising Malawi claims to have constructed were already in existence," Kazembe insists. "Raising Malawi only built 10 classroom blocks and not schools. People should know the difference between the two."
Kazembe said she and the Malawian government are eager to "clarify any misconceptions that may arise."
This isn't the first time Madge has landed in hot water with the country's officials. In 2010, her plans to build a $15 million elite school for girls was cancelled after the project's staff was accused of extreme mismanagement.
The adoption of her two youngest children, David and Mercy, from the country was also shrouded in controversy.
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