Religious discontent compels parents in Maafushi to stop taking children to school

A number of parents in Kaafu Maafushi have stopped taking their children to school due to discontent over gender mixed classes and pre-school activities being conducted to music.

Sun has come to know that the contention began on the 10th of this month during this year's Children's Day celebrations when the island's pre-school had conducted certain activities nursery rhymes. Five students have ceased attending school from that day forth, in addition to two other students who were withdrawn by their parents.

A teacher from the island's preschool explained to Sun that the parents have not given a reason as to why they have refused to send their children to school. However, certain parents have been known to be concerned regarding the Children's Day activities with nursery rhymes, although none of the parents have submitted the concern to any official authority, the teacher said.

Badhurunnisa Ibrahim, President of the Women’s Development Committee that currently runs the island’s preschool stated that any concerns regarding the school's activities can be taken up to the school's authorities. She said that the school is willing to hear any proposition from the parents as to an alternative to teach young children without exposing them to music, entertainment and games.

“Regardless, they stopped sending their children without discussing the matter with us. Taking the children away from their education, it is trampling on the rights of the children. We are concerned about this,” Badhurunnisa said.

She said that the issue has now been taken up with the relevant authorities.

The island’s council said that one of the children studying in the island school's primary grades has also been barred from attending classes by the student's parents due to discontent over the child having to attend gender mixed classes.

While this particular case curbs certain young children in Maafushi from their right to a proper education, Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights has voiced concern in the past over an increasing number of incidents where parents refuse to vaccinate their children and reports of female genital mutilation of young girls in the Maldives.