Bill to allow homeschooling passed with unanimous support

A bill to amend the Education Act to allow homeschooling in special circumstances has been accepted and passed by the Parliament.

The bill was introduced to Parliament on behalf of the government by Huraa constituency MP Dr. Anara Naeem, aiming to enable students who face obstacles in attending school due to a disability or mental health issue to receive their education at home.

In today's parliamentary session, the bill was passed for acceptance with the unanimous vote of all 41 participating members.

No member voted against it.

The main purpose of this bill is to introduce a homeschooling program into the Maldivian education system and facilitate the opportunity for children to be educated at home under specific, special circumstances.

According to the bill, one of the government's objectives in proposing this legislation is to provide the opportunity for schooling at the child's home, based on an assessment evaluating the extent of the child's disability or mental condition.

Accordingly, the bill proposes introducing a homeschooling program into the Education Act and defining the conditions and guidelines for providing educational opportunities under this program.

Additionally, the bill aims to bring necessary amendments to the law to further detail the roles of parents, teachers, and principals in operating and implementing the schooling system, as well as to address difficulties encountered in executing the law.

Circumstances Exempting Compulsory Education

As part of the bill, it is stated that although Section 14 of the Education Act mandates compulsory education, children who are unable to receive an education either by attending school or under the homeschooling program due to their disability will not be bound by compulsory education requirements.

However, even in such circumstances, parents must make reasonable efforts to teach the child in a manner and measure appropriate to the child's disability.

The bill also states that the criteria used to determine whether a child is exempt from compulsory education must be specified in regulations formulated by the Ministry under this law.

Conditions for the Homeschooling Program

Under the bill, Section 16-1 is added following Section 16 of the Education Act, detailing the principles governing the homeschooling program.

Under these provisions, if a child of compulsory school age is unable to attend a school to receive schooling due to a physical or mental disability or other special circumstances, school education may be completed at the child's home under the homeschooling program, in accordance with the rules set out in the regulations.

Education under the homeschooling program will be provided provided that the following basic conditions are met:

• The child is unable to attend school to obtain an education due to a physical disability, mental health condition, or other special circumstance.

• The child's parents possess the financial capability to provide education to the child under the homeschooling program.

• The child is registered in a school within the formal schooling system for attendance purposes.