Students not sent to school over lack of teachers

Some parents in AA. Maalhos island are refusing to send their children to school in protest over the lack of teachers available to teach Biology and Chemistry at the school which saw the introduction of grade nine this year. 

After two years, when grade nine was created this year at Maalhos school, students had to study in a combined stream, where subjects of both business stream and science stream are integrated for a better syllabus coverage. However, students spent most of this academic year without teachers for science subjects.

A parent at the school who spoke to Atoll Times said:

According to the parent, even the teacher, who was sent to school by the education ministry last month, did not know much about chemistry. According to the parent, the teacher was dedicated to biology and hence he also told the students that he did not know how to teach the subject chemistry.

"Some students say they have to tell the teacher a few things. The kids were bored in class," said a parent who did not wish to be named in the media.

"But at the time, we didn't really give it much thought because we finally got a teacher after such a long time."

The parent said that when the teacher left without even informing the school, the students were again deprived of education in two subjects. The parents also said they had decided not to send their children  to school and protested in the hope that they would get the attention of the education ministry, and find a solution for this basic right their children were being denied.

At present, there are a total of 10 students studying in ninth grade at Maalhos school.

The ministry has not yet responded to a request for comment.