Tele-classes suspended with closure of government offices

Education Ministry, on Wednesday, announced the temporary suspension of the tele-classes being held as an alternative teaching method for students in Maldives following the closure of schools as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education Ministry announced the suspension of the tele-classes in a statement in the afternoon.

The suspension is effective from March 19 to 26, and is linked with the Cabinet’s decision to close all government offices during the period.

“In response to the government’s decision to close government offices from March 19 to 26 as a special measure in response to COVID-19, we have decided to suspend the tele-classes being held for the students, and other educational programs planned by schools using alternative teaching methods, for the duration of this period,” announced the Education Ministry.

While tele-classes will not be held, the Education Ministry has urged parents to focus their attention on certain matters during the period. They are:

• Teaching students’ religious practices.
• Planning family activities which can be held at home.
• Reducing screen-time and having students engage in activities which stimulate their physical and mental health.
• Having students participate in household chores.
• Having students engage in activities designed to bolster their reading and writing skills.
• Paying special attention to mental and emotional wellbeing of students.
• Sharing information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner which is age-appropriate.
• Promoting caring and kindness.
• Making students more responsible towards their personal matters.
• Teaching children the merits of economizing.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts or safaris. Of the 13 people, five were from Kuredu Island Resort, two from Sandies Bathala, two from Kuramathi Island Resort, two from Anantara Dhigu, and two from Island Safari-1.

Maldives has a 30-day state of public health emergency in effect, under which the Director General of Public Health has imposed several precautionary measures to prevent and contain a COVID-19 outbreak in Maldives, it includes the temporary closure of schools, universities, colleges and training institutes, and a temporary ban on tuition classes.