Govt to launch courses to train state childcare staff

Social and family development minister Dr Aishath Shiham has announced that courses will be launched in February to ensure that the staff of childcare centre are properly trained and educated. 

There are occasional allegations of neglect and abuse by staff at the orphanage style centres run by the government to look after children put under welfare at Kudakudhinnge Hiyaa, Fiyavathi and Amaanveshi

In 2017, some employees of the Kudakudhinnge Hiyaa allegedly abused the children physically and mentally.

In related cases, the HRCM in 2021 asked the prosecutor to charge former Gender Minister Zenisha Shaheed Zaki and 30 others, including the head of the police’s Family and Child Protection Unit, Chief Superintendent Mohammed Basheer. However, the cases did not progress after.

In an interview with Atoll Times last week, Aishath Shiham said that the government has recognized the importance of providing adequate training to the staff who look after the children in the care of the state.

“Now they are talking to the Maldives National University and they are saying that they will start three levels of courses in February,” she said.

Among the courses, the minister mentioned:

Aishath Shiham said the training will be conducted with the participation of the employees at each level. She said the system will be changed to require additional training.

The minister said that once a child is brought into the custody of the state, the state takes over the custody of the child and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure the child's rights such as education and health. She said the children's environment should be made safe to ensure these things.

That can only be done, she said, if the people who are looking after the children are also trained and educated in the right system.