People's Majlis takes up bill on home-schooling for children with special needs

An amendment to the Education Act, proposed to provide children with specific special conditions the opportunity to receive education at home, has been taken up for consideration by the People's Majlis. The Majlis decided to take up the bill, which was submitted by Hura constituency member Anara Naeem, with the agreement of 41 members who participated in the vote. The amendment states that considering the child's physical or intellectual disability ratio or other special conditions, an exemption will be granted to the child if they obtain education by attending school, and the opportunity will be provided to offer education through the rules of the home-schooling program. However, the amendment stated that children with disabilities who cannot obtain education by attending school or under the home-schooling program are not among the children required to receive compulsory education. The basic conditions for providing education under the home-schooling program include that the child must be unable to obtain education by attending school due to a physical disability or psychological and special condition, the parents must be capable of financially providing education under the program, and the child must be registered in a school within the formal educational system. It is also stated in the amendment that guidelines to be determined by the Ministry under the law, which consider the ratio of the child's disability to determine whether the child is not among those required to receive compulsory education, must be specified in the regulations. The amendment further states that if a child of compulsory education age has completed the secondary education stage recognized by the country's formal education system before turning 16 years old, that child will not be required to go to school. Additionally, the amendment states that parents must make reasonable efforts to teach the child in a manner and extent appropriate to the child's disability. While this amendment has been taken up for consideration by the Majlis, criticism from former Education Minister Aishath Ali and former President Mohamed Nasheed has been directed at the bill. Speaking on the bill, Maikail Ahmed Naseem, member of Gaolhu South constituency, said that if such an amendment is introduced into law without a proper regulatory framework, it will open opportunities for people with rigid thinking.