Academic year begins with required number of teachers in service

The new academic year for 2014 has started with the required number of teachers in service. Over 9000 teachers, of which 7000 local, will begin teaching across the country today.

Education Ministry says that all Quran teachers are also in service, fulfilling its 100-day road map target to make Quran Education compulsory through grades 1 to 7 in all schools.

Requiring a large number of local teachers, Education Ministry struggled to meet the number through December and January, making two different announcement and later stating that resource teachers will be utilized to fill the remaining vacancies.

“The final announcement to seek Quran teachers expired last Sunday. Another 14 teachers are still needed. We couldn’t get resource teachers to fill the shortage. So until it is filled, Quran will be taught by Islam teachers and Islam HODs,” Director General at the Ministry of Education Mohamed Saeed said.

A total of 1,850 fresh students will start in Primary 1 and a total of 830 students will enroll in different other grades across schools in the capital Male’ today.

Education Ministry’s 100-day roadmap also includes establishing units for special needs children in five schools in the country and two specialised units for special needs children in two regions across the country.

Minister of State for Education Dr Abdulla Nazeer told Sun that the five special needs units will be established within the first two months of the academic year.

“We have decided to establish SEN [Special Educational Needs] Units in five islands. These include Noonu Velidhoo, Baa Eydhafushi, Kaafu Maafushi, Faafu Nilandhoo and Thaa Thimarafushi. Specialised Units will be established in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi and Fuvahmulah. These place will begin services in March,” Dr Abdulla Nazeer said.

He said the islands were selected based on two surveys by UNICEF which reflected the concentration of special needs cases in different regions across the country.

Minister of Education Dr Aishath Shiham has said that the government’s aim is to establish an all-inclusive education system through which children gain the required skills to build a civilised society.