Maldives Witnesses Surge in Local Teachers as Foreign Teacher Numbers Decline
Photo: The President’s Office
The Ministry of Education has disclosed a notable increase in the number of Maldivian teachers over the past five years, according to the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS).
As of now, there are a total of 10,578 educators serving in 213 government-run schools across the Maldives. This figure comprises 1,963 foreign teachers and 8,615 local teachers, with 7,873 of them being full-time employees.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
It is noteworthy that the majority of teachers are female, with 7,866 women in the profession compared to 2,712 male teachers.
One of the most significant shifts in the education sector during the past half-decade has been the transition from foreign to local teachers. Between 2014 and 2018, the Maldives had 1,356 foreign teachers and 4,078 local teachers.
However, since 2018, the number of foreign educators has decreased by 1,188, while the number of local teachers has surged by 6,598, marking a 2,520 increase in local teaching staff. These figures suggest that an additional 2,704 teachers are required to fully localise the teaching workforce.
Over the past five years, the education sector has witnessed substantial changes, particularly in teacher remuneration. The average teacher’s salary has witnessed a remarkable 65% increase, now reaching a minimum of MVR 20,000.
This effort by the government to boost teachers’ salaries has led to a rise in the number of local teachers in the profession, as well as the return of many Maldivian educators who had previously left due to inadequate income. The Ministry of Education anticipates a continued rise in the number of local teachers, primarily due to the improvements in the salary structure.
This regulatory body is responsible for issuing teaching licenses and ensuring that educators in schools and educational centres possess the requisite educational and technical competencies. Moreover, various training programs have been implemented to maintain the quality of teachers within the system.
