All teachers required to register with a council with Education Act

Bill on Education has been submitted to People’s Majlis by Funadhoo MP Ali Saleem which require all teachers working in Maldives to be registered with a Teachers Registration Council.

The first reading on the bill was heard by People’s Majlis during the sitting held this Tuesday.

Article 41 of the bill states that teachers cannot work at any school or education center in

Maldives without registration with Teachers Registration Council. It also prohibits any school from hiring an unregistered teacher.

Teachers need license to work in:

• Daycare centers

• Baby nursery and nursery

• Pre-schools and other early education centers

• Registered tuition classes

• Training and exercise centers

• Schools

Teachers Registration Council needs to be established within a month after the bill is passed by People’s Majlis. And policy for licensing teachers is required to be compiled and published within one month after the council is established.

The Teachers Registration Council needs to have members from Qualification Authority, National Institute of Education, Quality Assurance Department of Ministry of Education, Human Resource Division of Ministry of Education, Civil Service Commission, an institute which provides training to teachers, and an NGO which represents trainers.

Responsibilities of Teachers Registration Council:

• Compiling and implementing a system to ensure and maintain professional standard of teachers

• Maintaining and improving education standard in Maldives

• Maintaining professional and educational certificates of teachers

• Ensuring the annual target for professional development of teachers is achieved

• Ensuring that teachers maintain teaching skills and standards up to community standards

Though the bill states that establishing the Teachers Registration Council is compulsory, it does not state the authority which will be bestowed upon the council. It also does not state measures which will be taken if the standard of teachers is not up to par.