Minister summoned to parliament over proposed academic year change
Some parents say the heavy monsoon rains in June and July interfere with their holidays.
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By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam has submitted a motion to summon Education Minister Ismail Shafeeu for questioning, citing concerns raised by parents regarding the education ministry's discussions to start the academic year 2025 in January of the year.
Education Minister Shafeeu announced on 20th of this month that he has started discussions with education officials to bring about the change.
He said the change is aimed at 2025 in line with President Mohammed Muizzu's promise to start the new academic year in January. However, the decision will be taken after considering the issues, budgeting, curriculum, timeline and other factors, he said.
On Wednesday, a notice was sent to Shafeeu for questioning, citing concerns raised by the parents.
According to the notice that was published in X on Saturday, the opposition MDP representative Rozaina said the minister had met with school principals in the city and decided to postpone the new academic year to January.
“The current academic year ends in June 2024. Please clarify what the ministry has decided regarding the children's education during the period between that date and the new academic year,” Rozaina asked of the minister.
According to the rules of the Parliament:
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A member can question a minister after giving him 14 days notice of the question he/she wants to ask
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If the Minister is prepared to answer the question before that, the Speaker shall have the right to agenda the question in a session of Parliament
The school holidays in Maldives have long coincided with November and December. However from 2021, the school holiday has been scheduled for mid-year, coinciding with June and July.
Some people are unhappy with the change in the holiday. Some parents say the heavy monsoon rains in June and July interfere with their holidays.
Amidst the controversy over the holiday, President Muizzu proposed during his campaign to move the school holiday back to December and arrange an additional month's holiday in the middle of the year. He also proposed:
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A four-week school holiday, also during June-July
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With that, students will be given their big holidays in December; The annual holidays usually consist 1.5 months
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Muizzu said he would give a big holiday in the middle and end of the year, giving students better timing for their studies and other activities
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The decision was taken after consulting with education experts, he said.
