Maldives proposes law change to ease home schooling for children unable to attend school

The Maldives government has proposed an amendment to the Education Act to make it easier for children who are unable to attend school to receive education through home schooling. The amendment was submitted by Dr. Anara Naeem, the PNC member for the Huraa constituency. Under the current law, the minister has the authority to grant an exemption, according to regulations, for children who cannot attend school due to their condition. The law currently mandates compulsory education for every child between the ages of four and sixteen, and requires parents to send their children to school to receive education from preschool through secondary school. However, the proposed amendment states that children who are unable to attend school or receive education through home schooling due to disabilities should not be subject to compulsory education. The amendment also states that parents must make appropriate efforts to educate children with disabilities, and that criteria should be established under the Education Act to determine when a child does not have to attend school based on the degree of disability.