Homeschooling misleads the young generation: President Nasheed

President Nasheed has expressed concern over a bill submitted to Parliament that allows students to study at home under specific special circumstances.

The bill was introduced to Parliament to enable children who are unable to attend school due to a disability or mental health issue to receive an education from home.

As debate on the bill proceeds, Nasheed voiced his concern in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and called for the proposal not to be granted approval.

The first reading of the "Bill on the Second Amendment to the Education Act (Act No. 24/2020)," submitted by Dr. Anara Naeem, Member of Parliament for the Huraa constituency, was held during Monday's parliamentary sitting.

The main purpose of the bill is to introduce a homeschooling program into the Maldivian educational system, facilitating the opportunity to provide children with an education at home under specific special circumstances.

According to the bill, one of the primary reasons for introducing this measure is to provide school education in a child's home based on an assessment evaluating the extent of their disability or mental health condition.

Accordingly, the bill proposes introducing a homeschooling program into the Education Act and defining the prerequisites and rules for receiving an education under this program.

Furthermore, the bill aims to detail the roles of parents, teachers, and principals in running and implementing the school education system, as well as to make necessary amendments to resolve challenges faced in implementing the law.

Circumstances Where Compulsory Education Is Not Mandatory

Under the proposed bill, although Section 14 of the Education Act makes education compulsory, children who are unable to receive an education either by attending school or through the homeschooling program due to severe disability will be exempt from mandatory education requirements.

However, even in such circumstances, parents must make reasonable efforts to teach the child in a manner and to an extent suited 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 outlined in regulations made by the Ministry under this Act.

Prerequisites for the Homeschooling Program

Under the bill, Section 16-1 is added after Section 16 of the Education Act to outline the principles of the homeschooling program.

If a child of compulsory school age is unable to attend school to receive an education due to a physical or mental disability, or other special circumstances, they may complete their schooling at home under the homeschooling program in accordance with the regulations.

Education can only be provided under the homeschooling program if the following basic criteria are met:

• The child must be deemed unable to attend school to receive an education due to a physical disability, mental health condition, or other special circumstance.

• The child's parents/guardians must have the financial capability to provide an education under the homeschooling program.

• The child must be registered at a school within the formal school education system.