Education Ministry holds discussions for transferring Deputy Principals to other posts

The Ministry of Education has begun discussions regarding transferring 188 Deputy Principals of government schools in Male’ and other islands, to other posts.

Several Deputy Principals who spoke to Sun Online today said that they were shocked and saddened by this decision by policymakers at the ministry.

One Deputy Principal said on the condition of anonymity, that he did not understand how schools that are operated in two sessions, can function without deputy Principals.

Efforts to obtain an official comment from the Ministry were unsuccessful at the time of publication. However, a ministry official said via SMS that work was ongoing to reform the organisational structure for skilled staff of government schools.

Another official confirmed to Sun Online that efforts were ongoing to transfer Deputy Principals to other posts. He assured, however, that no Deputy Principal would be left without a job following this process.

He said that Deputy Principals would be given three or four options, including being transferred as Principals to 92 islands presently lacking Principals.

The efforts by the Education Ministry to abolish the role of Deputy Principals at government schools have been met with criticism from opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), as well as Jumhooree Party (JP).

MDP’s Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam said at a press conference that it was difficult to accept the ministry’s decision, and highlighted that appraisals must be conducted before civil servants can be transferred to lower posts, and that this can only be done if the person’s productivity has gone down.

Speaking at a ceremony held on Thursday at Paradise Island Hotel, for Madaveli MP Muaz Mohamed Rasheed to join JP, JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim said that abrupt changes to the structure of schools can have adverse effects on the education sector, as it can result in teachers losing motivation.

Education Ministry, meanwhile, has stressed that the purpose of this change is to facilitate progress and development for the education sector.