The government has initiated a new teacher training programme for special educational needs (SEN) with courses beginning at the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) with privately-run Villa College to follow with a similar programme.
The free diploma course is a central part of the government's National Teacher Training Programme and is intended to address the nationwide shortage of qualified SEN educators.
The initiative has garnered significant interest, with strong enrollment numbers reported at both institutions. At IUM, over 30 students have already registered for the course, drawn from a pool of 45 applicants. The student body includes both aspiring teachers and current temporary teachers looking to gain specialised skills.
IUM told PSM News that the new course, which launched last month, has received an enthusiastic response. Villa College has also seen high demand, with more than 90 applications received and 37 students selected for the course, set to begin this month.
The curriculum, according to IUM, is designed to be comprehensive, combining theoretical instruction with practical, hands-on experience. Students will participate in classroom teaching, workshops, and visits to schools to gain valuable real-world skills, it added.
To support students, the government has made the diploma course completely free, while each student will receive a monthly stipend of around USD 100 designed as a key incentive to attract individuals to the specialised field of special education.
The launch is part of a broader government effort to find a comprehensive solution to the teacher shortage before the end of the current presidential term. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with IUM and Villa College, is overseeing the programme, which focuses specifically on training educators to teach children with special needs.
By equipping educators with the necessary skills, the programme aims to ensure these children receive the effective instruction they deserve.