Every teacher working in government schools across the Maldives will be given a computer next year, Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu has announced.
Speaking at the government’s “Ahaa” forum last night, the Minister said the main aim is to ease teachers’ workload and create a better environment for teaching and learning.
He said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was briefed on the plan last month and instructed the ministry to speed up the procurement of the computers.
“So far, schools have not been able to provide every teacher with the computer they need. Compared to other sectors, this is something that was greatly neglected in the past,” the Minister said.
He added that work to bring modern facilities for teachers to every school in the country will begin by the end of this year.
Noting that the majority of teachers in the Maldives are women, the Minister said it is important to make arrangements that reduce the time teachers must spend at school, given their family and household responsibilities. He said specialised training and professional development programmes for teachers will also continue.
Answering a question from the public at the same forum, the Minister said the government aims to finish installing air conditioning in every school under the “Cool School” project by the end of this year, without waiting for the end of the presidential term. He acknowledged some delays caused by the transfer of electricity services from Fenaka to STELCO, but said the goal is for students across the country to start the new academic year in air-conditioned classrooms.
