The Education Sector Research Group has revealed that over 12,000 teachers have graduated in the past 10 years. The research group made the statement in its report identifying issues facing teachers in the education sector.
The report highlighted that 12,123 teachers graduated from the Maldives National University (MNU) from 2011 to 2020. It stated that 2020 saw the highest number with 4,371 graduates while 2016 saw the second highest with 1,330 graduates. 2011 saw the least with 398 graduates.
The report also showed that 7,875 of the graduates were women and 4,248 were men. They had graduated from certificate, diploma, degree, and master’s level courses. As such, from 1977 to 2021, 19% of graduates from MNU received a master’s degree, while 20% received a bachelor’s degree, 25% received a diploma, and 36% received a post-graduate diploma.
Furthermore, the report noted that the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) also conducted teacher training courses. As of 2021, 35% of graduates from these courses have received a post-graduate diploma, 25% received a diploma, 23% received a bachelor’s degree, and 20% received a master’s degree. Additionally, 56% of the graduates were trained to become primary school teachers, while 36% were trained to become secondary school teachers.
The report revealed a total of 1,162 students graduated from teacher training courses in IUM. Most of them graduated from courses on teaching Quran and Islamic studies. As such, 2,175 students had participated in such courses from 2011 to 2020. Additionally, National Centre for the Holy Quran trained 836 students to become Quran teachers from 2000 to 2020.
The report also revealed that 6,000 foreign teachers were recruited from 2012 to 2021, which include 5,592 teachers from India and 325 teachers from Sri Lanka. 5,307 foreign teachers were hired to work at government schools and 1,076 were hired for private schools. In 2021, the state spent USD1.6 million on recruitment and accommodation of foreign teachers.
The report further highlighted that over 1,000 teachers resigned and left the field in the past seven years for various reasons, as well as 18 deputy principals and 46 principals. During this period, 1,197 teachers had resigned from government schools.
The report also revealed that 79% of teachers working in the 214 government schools as of 2021 were Maldivians, while 21% were foreigners.