Ministry of Education has stated no school principal will be forced to transfer to another school without consent, despite the new policy setting a maximum duration of service at one school.
The new rule was included in the policy for assigning principals to government schools, which was formulated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and published on the website of the education ministry. The policy states principals assigned to schools under tenureship cannot remain at one school for more than 8 consecutive years.
Speaking to PSM News, Deputy Minister of Education Mohamed Ihsan said no principal will be forced to transfer to another school without their consent. The deputy minister said all regulations under the new policy will be formed in such a way that ensures current and new principals are not deprived of their basic rights. He assured the regulations will take into consideration all the concerns expressed by school principals over the new policy.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Education Aishath Athiya Naseer said the new policy sets two 4-year terms for principals assigned under tenureship. She said principals who have been serving at one school for more than 8 years will remain in their positions, as the term would only begin after the principal is assigned to a school under tenure in accordance to the new policy. She said principals will be provided the option to transfer to another school at the end of each term, although they will not be permitted to remain in the same school following the end of the second term of tenure.
The education ministry stated the new policy on assigning principals was formulated to strengthen the administration of schools in the Maldives and to ensure capable and qualified principals are assigned to schools. The ministry said the policy also aims to resolve the problems faced when a principal remains at one school for a long period of time and to ensure fresh ideas and policies are implemented to improve the quality of school administration.