Religious scholars seek end to mixed-gender classes

The Union of Scholars has called for changes to the education system to end the practice of teaching male and female students together in the same classrooms.

The union said it sent a letter to Education Minister Ismail Shafeeu outlining its concerns and proposals.

According to the Union of Scholars, schools in the Maldives followed a system with greater separation of male and female students prior to 2008. The union said that subsequent changes led to mixed-gender classrooms that it considers inconsistent with local cultural practices.

The union also referred to images and videos circulating on social media that it said were recorded at a school in the southern region of the country and involved interactions between male and female students. It said these incidents highlighted the need to reconsider the current approach.

The union stated that conducting education without mixing students of both sexes would address these issues.

However, it was also noted that, even before 2008, male and female students attended classes together in some schools in the Maldives.