Student walks out of school; safety lapses probed
The Education Ministry has since launched a formal investigation into the matter.
A serious safety incident has sparked concern in the education sector after a young student from a Hulhumalé Key-Stage 1 school walked out of the school premises during school hours.
According to Education Minister Ismail Shafeeu, the child exited the campus through a gate typically used by teachers. The incident occurred earlier yesterday, and the student was found safely with the help of police shortly after the alarm was raised.
Minister Shafeeu stated that he received news of the incident at 3:11 p.m., and by around 3:30 p.m., the child had been located and safely returned with the coordinated efforts of the police, the school, and the Ministry of Education. He confirmed that the child was not harmed.
Taking to social media to address the public, Minister Shafeeu emphasised transparency and accountability, stating that the post served two purposes:
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To highlight the importance of collective action in strengthening school safety protocols when such incidents occur, rather than concealing them.
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To identify the lapse in gate security and assure all stakeholders that immediate steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
He noted that the gate in question should either remain locked or be under active supervision. "While that is the rule, we must now determine how the student was able to leave through it," he added.
Minister Shafeeu assured that action will be taken against anyone found responsible for the breach and reiterated the government’s commitment to student safety.
