No Difficulty in Recruiting Teachers for New Academic Year, Says Education Minister

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that there are no challenges in recruiting teachers ahead of the new academic year, scheduled to begin on 27 January.

Final preparations are currently underway, including the distribution of textbooks, repair works in schools, and the recruitment of teachers and principals, which has been given special priority.

Speaking in an interview with PSM News, Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu stated that teacher recruitment is managed in proportion to the number of foreign teachers leaving their posts. More than 2,000 foreign teachers are currently working in the Maldives, with an annual movement of between 100 and 150 teachers. This movement includes resignations, layoffs, and additional recruitment required to accommodate increases in student numbers.

Dr Shafeeu said the necessary number of teachers to cover these changes has already been secured, with additional staff kept on standby if further needs arise. He added that even in the event of an unusual movement, a replacement teacher can be appointed within five days.

Efforts are also ongoing to appoint principals for schools currently without leadership. At present, more than 11,000 teachers are employed in schools across the Maldives. The government is working to enhance teacher capacity through a national teacher training programme, aimed at addressing ongoing teacher shortages.