MALE, 2 April, 2021 (TON): Seven revisions to the policy drafted by the Education Ministry for the admission and transfer of school students for the upcoming academic year were recommended by the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).

The policy is reviewed from a human rights perspective, so the education ministry must make changes, HRCM said.

Considering the five cases of human rights violations of children reported to the Gender Ministry in February, all of which involved the obstruction of the right to access education, the Education Ministry establish a mechanism to identify students who aren’t attending school or aren’t being allowed to attend school, identify parents or guardians who are negligent is sending students to school, and take appropriate action.

A second revision recommended by HRCM was for Education Ministry to establish a mechanism to ensure students who are unable to attend school due to health conditions continue to have access to education.

HRCM also recommended that the Education Ministry identify students who enroll in the first grade without completing the foundation stage, assess their education standard, prepare an individual education plan, and establish the mechanism to ascertain the right to education under the plan.

Moreover, ensuring children from foreign countries who live in the Maldives are granted educational opportunities in government schools without discrimination, and to include a clause in the policy detailing a mechanism to submit and review complaints under the policy.