Teacher shortage is not just a perennial problem for Malaysia –it is also a challenge in the Maldives. Republic of Maldives Permanent Secretary Shifaz Mohamed said the country is facing a shortage of some 2,000 teachers. “Annually, we have about 50 teachers joining the profession. I have just approved early retirement applications for 85 teachers who were trained in Islamic studies. It is very difficult to get replacements for these teachers.
“To address this, the Education Minister has come up with a training programme for high school students interested in becoming teachers.
“Education and all the resources are free for them but they will also be given pocket money of US$100 (RM446) per month if they want to study to become teachers,” he said, adding that the Maldives has some 10,000 teachers and 80,000 students but the country’s geographical structure makes it difficult to have a student-teacher ratio of 8:1.“We have about 1,190 islands. Some 200 islands are inhabited, so enrolment in the 200-plus schools varies. There are schools with 10 students and there are those with 3,000 students, so the ratio is not so straightforward.
“But the best thing in the Maldives is that no matter where or who you are, you will have access to free, international education,” he said, adding that schools with less than 50 students are satellite schools that come under the purview of bigger schools.
He shared that post-Covid-19, elements of digitalisation have been adopted.
“Our teachers are not experts but we are improving our online learning system,” he said.
Shifaz said despite the challenges, schools are thriving because its teachers, who have either an undergraduate or master’s degree, are very qualified. And most principals have a master’s degree.
To address the lack of counsellors, the ministry offers online counselling for students, parents and teachers, he added.
Its head of professional training Abdulla Ismail said this year, the ministry will focus on training mid-management teachers.
“Some 60% of our 1,200 ‘leader teachers’ were trained in management but 40% are ‘accidental managers’ who were thrust into leadership roles. This is why we are arranging for their training,” he said, adding that the Maldives has a very good working relationship with Malaysian teaching institutions such as the Aminuddin Baki Institute and Universiti Malaya (UM).
UM Faculty of Education deputy dean Assoc Prof Dr Azmawaty Mohamad Nor, who facilitated the “HEBAT (Henti, Elak, Basmi Asap Tembakau) initiative: Empowering youth for a tobacco and nicotine-free school” workshops in the Maldives, said UM is looking forward to welcoming Maldivians to the varsity.
“We hope to help train more teachers and counsellors and to support in upskilling its talent,” she said.
