Dhaandhoo protests, demads Islamic Studies teacher

Parents and students in Gaafu Alif Dhaandhoo staged protests today calling for the school and authorities to arrange an Islamic Studies teacher for the school's primary grades.

A parent from Dhaandhoo told Sun that they have asked the school, on several occasions, to fill the post, which has been vacant for the past three months.

“It has been three months since school resumed and we still don’t have an Islam teacher. We have asked the school multiple times to find a person, but they said Education Ministry told them there is a shortage in Islam teachers. But some schools in this atoll have two, even three teachers,” the parent said, expressing her frustration.

Dhaandhoo local council member Shuau Abdul Gayyoom said the council has also written to the Education Ministry about the issue.

A ministry official said that the Dhaandhoo School has two Islamic Studies teachers on its payroll and that both teachers are on leave. Nonetheless, the ministry is trying to arrange an Islamic Studies teacher to Dhaandhoo School, but there is little response to announcements for teachers, the official said.