Maldives Education Minister Rules Out Gender-Separated Schools Despite Union Calls

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has stated that the Maldives government has no intention of introducing gender-separated teaching in schools, despite calls from the Scholars Union. The Scholars Union urged the minister to ensure boys and girls are taught separately "as much as possible," citing precedents from major schools before 2008 and claiming recent policies were influenced by "secular ideology" inconsistent with Islamic principles and Maldivian culture. Shafeeu confirmed the government's stance but provided no further details. The ministry recently announced plans to revise school uniforms, sparking criticism over stricter requirements for female students. Arabiyya School remains one of the few institutions maintaining gender-based classrooms.