Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali has urged parents to send students to their schools as the academic year resumes, providing assurance that schools will be a safe environment for students.
In a video message released on the occasion of school reopening, Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali noted 2020 was an extremely difficult year as studies were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she acknowledged the hard work put in by teachers and parents to ensure the continued learning of students, despite the lockdown enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister stated the continued absence of students from school will have long-term psychological consequences for students, in addition to making it more difficult for them to continue learning. Therefore, the minister called on parents to send their children to schools and assured them that schools will be made a safe environment for them. She noted all teachers and staff of schools are working very hard to ensure schools are safe for students to return.
Schools have reopened for the second term of the 2020 Academic Year on January 10. Part of the academic calendar for 2020 had to be pushed to 2021 due to the lockdown imposed in the Maldives last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The education ministry has categorized schools into three categories for the beginning of the second term of the ongoing academic year. As such, the first category includes schools which can conduct single-sessions while maintaining the social distancing guidelines set by Health Protection Agency (HPA). The second category includes schools which can conduct double-sessions while maintaining the HPA guidelines. Sessions of schools in these two categories will be conducted 5 days a week.
Meanwhile, the third category includes schools which can conduct sessions on alternate days while maintaining HPA guidelines. Students of such schools will attend their allocated school session 5 days within two weeks.
The education ministry has also classified regions and islands into three categories for reopening of schools. Category A includes islands under lockdown, while Category B includes islands under monitoring. Category C includes islands with no reported cases of COVID-19.
As per the ministry, schools in Category A islands or regions will not be reopened on January 10, while schools in Category B islands or regions are required to conduct its sessions in accordance to the respective HPA guidelines. Schools in Category C islands or regions can conduct its sessions for foundation and key stages as normal.