Huraa MP Anara Naeem has introduced the eighth amendment to the Education Act, seeking to provide free home-schooling opportunities for children with disabilities.
The proposed amendment stipulates that, based on the extent of a child’s physical disability or other special circumstances, an exemption from physical school attendance may be granted. This would allow the child to receive an education through a home-schooling program, provided it adheres to established guidelines.
However, the bill clarifies that children whose disabilities render them unable to participate in either formal schooling or a home-schooling program will be exempt from the compulsory education requirement.
The conditions for providing education under the home-schooling program include:
- The child must be unable to attend school physically due to a physical disability, mental health condition, or other special circumstances.
- The child’s guardians must possess the financial capacity to provide education through the home-schooling program.
- The child must be registered at a school within the formal education system.
The amendment further states that the Education Ministry must outline the specific criteria in its regulations to determine when a child is exempt from compulsory education based on the severity of their disability.
Additionally, the bill proposes that any child within the compulsory education age bracket who completes secondary education—recognised by the Maldives' formal education system—before the age of 16 will no longer be required to attend school.
The amendment also emphasises that parents and guardians must make adequate efforts to ensure the child receives an education that is appropriate and sufficient for their specific disability.
