All teachers, not only Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers, must be familiar with inclusive education, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said.
The Minister made the remarks at the inauguration of the Educator Professional Development Programme for Equity and Inclusion, which aims to familiarise teachers, leading teachers and principals working in schools with inclusive pedagogy.
Minister Dr Shafeeu said teacher training is one of the highest priorities in the education sector. Several hundred students are already studying under the national teacher training programme, including those training to become SEN teachers.
He said that when the initiative began in 2024, a shortage of teachers for students requiring special assistance was identified, particularly in schools in the atolls. With the online platform launched through the programme, teachers will now be able to develop their knowledge of inclusive education regardless of where they are based.
Minister Dr Shafeeu stressed that familiarity with inclusive education should not be limited to SEN teachers. All teachers, he said, must be prepared to teach every child without discrimination.
He said the education system has a responsibility to establish a mechanism that makes the professional support teachers need as easily accessible as possible. A course dedicated to inclusive education has now been established through the NIE platform, while leadership programmes will also be introduced.
Courses tailored to different key stages and specific subjects will also be introduced, he said.
Minister Dr Shafeeu encouraged teachers to make use of such opportunities and develop modern skills so they can provide students with the greatest possible support.
Seven e-learning modules have been developed under the Educator Professional Development Programme for Equity and Inclusion and are now available to schools through the Edhuru Portal.
The modules cover Universal Design for Learning, Differentiated Instruction, Assistive Technology, Teaching Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Managing Challenging Behaviour for Students with ADHD and ASD, Early Identification and Intervention, and Design Thinking.
The modules are designed to familiarise school staff with inclusive pedagogy and strengthen the capacity of teachers and school leaders in the area. They are self-paced and can be completed at flexible times.
The Ministry said those who complete the modules will receive an Inclusive Educator Certificate through the portal.
The programme is being implemented by the Department of Inclusive Education. As part of its pilot phase, 35 people from 10 schools have already used the programme, with the initiative set to be expanded to all schools.