Books given to students with a cost of MVR 40 million

Education Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham has said that the books have been provided for all the students for the new academic year that starts tomorrow and all the books combined cost MVR 40 million.

Speaking at the PSM press conference today about the preparations for the new academic year, Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said that books worth of 500 tons have been provided across the country for the new syllabus.

“To prepare these books, MVR 40 million was spent. In that, over half a million books were given. Giving away the books are going forward in collaboration with the schools.” Education Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said.

Noting that the teachers for the schools have been allocated for, the Minister said that they are most happy about bringing in less foreign teachers. And so last year, the number of foreign teachers were in the 200s, this year, the number is in 100s.

While the Minister has said that the schools have gotten teachers for the year, schools opened applications for teachers just yesterday. Yesterday alone, notice were up to find 11 teachers including schools in Malé City.

On the topic of the newly introduced pre-school classes at the government schools, the Minister said that a total of MVR 25 million was spent for the preparations. She said that the government would be conducting pre-schools in all the islands aside from those declared as cities.

“I have received information that over 9000 students would begin classes at L.K.G. and U.K.G. The schools and parents have worked together to hire teachers, build more classrooms, toilets and play areas for children for the government run pre-schools.

The new academic year would begin as scheduled on 13 January 2016 (tomorrow).