Parents report shortage of textbooks ahead of school reopening
Parents said the shortages were reported in schools in Malé as well as in several islands.
The new school year begins on Tuesday, with parents reporting shortages of several textbooks in a number of grades.
Parents said that textbooks for Islam, Qur’an and Dhivehi are not available in some primary grades. They said shortages have also been reported in some secondary grades, while books for certain other subjects remain limited.
A parent of a Grade 10 student at Majeediyya School said his child had received only Islam, Qur’an and Dhivehi textbooks.
“My son got Islam, Qur’an and Dhivehi books. No other textbooks,” he said.
A parent with two children in primary grades at Jamaluddin School said neither child had yet received any textbooks.
Parents said the shortages were reported in schools in Malé as well as in several islands.
Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said all textbooks will be delivered before the start of the school year.
In an interview with PSM earlier this month, the minister said textbooks are distributed to each island based on student enrolment for the year. He said one of the main challenges in distribution was limited storage space.
He said textbooks were previously sorted at a warehouse at Arabiyya School but that the operation had been moved to Ameeniyya School due to space constraints.
He also said there were delays in transporting books because of work taking place at the northern port area of the city.
“Despite these issues, I give full assurance that the books will be handed over before the school opens,” he said.
The Ministry of Education has not announced when the remaining textbooks will be available.
