Home schooling proposal raised during president’s meeting with Galolhu

Former minister Rashida Yousuf on Tuesday raised concerns about the direction of the education system, stating that excessive competition is affecting both students and teachers.

She made the remarks while speaking at President Mohamed Muizzu’s meeting with residents of Galolhu, held to hear public concerns. Rashida, who previously served as Minister of Social Welfare and oversaw schools during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said she was concerned about current practices in the education sector.

Rashida said the education system has increasingly become centred on competition, leaving limited time for students and teachers. She stated that academic work, extracurricular activities and school events are now treated as competitive exercises.

“Education has become a competition. Activities outside the classroom have become a competition. Even celebrations have become a competition,” she said.

She added that schools are now holding frequent tournaments and activities that she said do not contribute meaningfully to learning. Rashida noted that these issues did not emerge recently and began during her time in office, continuing without significant change.

She also raised concerns about student outcomes, stating that some children leaving school at an early age lack basic skills, including writing formal letters, communicating effectively in Dhivehi and demonstrating social conduct.

According to Rashida, students often show little interest in continuing work if they do not like the tasks assigned to them. She said this makes it difficult to teach children the value of work and responsibility.

Rashida further said that learning has shifted towards memorisation, tuition classes and the commercial preparation of examination papers, projects and assignments, including at primary school level. She said she was not aware of any action taken by the Ministry of Education to address these practices.

She questioned how future generations would be prepared to contribute to the country under the current system.

The meeting was also attended by Education Minister Ismail Shafeeu. Rashida urged the government to review education models used in other countries and consider reforms where appropriate.

She also called for the introduction of home schooling under parental supervision. While noting that home schooling is practised in some countries, she said it is not permitted in the Maldives. Parents have previously submitted petitions seeking its introduction, but current laws require children to attend school, and failure to do so is prohibited.