Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu has stated that there is no difficulty in recruiting teachers for the new academic year.
The new academic year is scheduled to begin on the January 27, with the Ministry of Education currently making final preparations.
These preparations include the distribution of textbooks to schools, school repair works, and the recruitment of teachers and principals, which has been given special priority.
Speaking in an interview with PSM News, Dr Shafeeu said teacher recruitment is carried out in proportion to the number of foreign teachers leaving their posts. He noted that more than 2,000 foreign teachers are currently teaching in the Maldives, with an annual movement of between 100 and 150 teachers.
He explained that this movement includes resignations, layoffs, and additional recruitment necessitated by increases in student numbers in schools.
The minister said the required number of teachers to cover these changes has already been secured, with additional teachers kept on standby if further needs arise.
“There will be a movement of 150 teachers every year. About 400 teachers will be on standby every year. Even if there is an unusual movement, a teacher will be brought within five days,” said the education minister.
Dr Shafeeu added that the teacher recruitment process is progressing successfully and that there is currently no difficulty in staffing schools.
He also stated that efforts are underway to appoint principals for schools that are currently without them.
More than 11,000 teachers are presently working in schools across the Maldives. The government is also working to enhance teacher capacity, alongside the launch of a national teacher training programme aimed at addressing teacher shortages.