A bill proposing the introduction of homeschooling in the Maldives has been submitted to Parliament, seeking to provide alternative educational arrangements for children who are unable to attend school due to physical disabilities, mental health conditions or other exceptional circumstances.
The proposed amendments to the Education Act were sponsored by Huraa constituency MP Dr Anara Naeem, with the bill receiving its first reading during Monday’s sitting of the People’s Majlis.
The legislation seeks to establish a formal framework through which eligible children can continue their education at home, offering an alternative to conventional classroom learning for students whose circumstances make regular school attendance difficult or impossible.
Under the proposed amendments, homeschooling would be available to children who cannot attend school because of a physical disability, a mental health condition or other special circumstances that prevent them from participating in classroom-based education.
The bill identifies these three categories as the primary grounds for determining eligibility, allowing consideration of individual circumstances beyond physical disabilities and mental health conditions.
However, access to homeschooling would be subject to certain requirements, including the financial ability of parents or legal guardians to arrange and provide the necessary educational services.
The proposed legislation also specifies that only children already registered within the formal education system would be eligible to apply for homeschooling.
This requirement would ensure that students receiving education at home remain connected to the country’s established education framework rather than operating entirely outside the formal system.
The Ministry of Education would be responsible for developing and implementing the regulations governing homeschooling, including procedures for assessing children and determining whether they qualify for the arrangement.
The ministry would also establish registration requirements, develop guidelines for individual learning plans and determine the qualifications and standards expected of teachers providing homeschooling services.
In addition, the proposed amendments would require the ministry to introduce monitoring mechanisms to oversee the education of children enrolled in the system.
These measures are intended to ensure that homeschooling arrangements remain subject to educational standards and appropriate supervision, while allowing flexibility for children with circumstances that prevent regular school attendance.
The bill also addresses situations involving children whose conditions are so severe that participation in formal education may not be possible, even through homeschooling.
Under a separate proposed amendment, providing formal education would no longer be mandatory for children whose circumstances make homeschooling itself impracticable.
The provision would introduce an exception to the existing compulsory education requirements for children facing particularly significant barriers to learning.
The proposed changes come amid longstanding requests from parents seeking greater flexibility in how education is provided to children with disabilities and other conditions affecting their ability to attend school.
For some families, conventional classroom settings can present considerable challenges, particularly when children require specialised care, individual attention or learning arrangements adapted to their physical or psychological needs.
Although the Maldives has taken steps to strengthen inclusive education and support students with additional learning needs, access to suitable educational arrangements remains an important concern for families whose children cannot regularly attend school.
The country’s education system operates under a legal framework that establishes the right to education and places responsibilities on the state and parents to ensure children have access to schooling.
The proposed homeschooling framework would introduce an additional option within that system, allowing eligible students to receive education outside school premises while remaining subject to oversight by the Ministry of Education.
The financial eligibility requirement is also a significant element of the proposal, as parents or guardians would need sufficient resources to arrange the educational support required for homeschooling.
The bill does not specify whether government financial assistance would be available to families seeking to provide homeschooling or how the costs of specialised teaching services would be addressed.
Further details regarding assessments, teacher qualifications, registration procedures and monitoring arrangements would be determined through regulations developed by the Ministry of Education if the amendments become law.
The legislation represents a potential change in how the Maldivian education system accommodates children who face substantial barriers to attending conventional schools.
It also responds to years of advocacy by parents who have called for homeschooling to be formally recognised as an educational option.
With the first reading completed, the bill will proceed through the parliamentary legislative process, where its provisions will be subject to further consideration before any amendments to the Education Act can take effect.
