The financial situation of Maldivian schools has deteriorated to the point where they are forced to rely on parents and teachers to fundraise for extracurricular activities, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir has said.
Debating the government-proposed amendment to the Education Act during yesterday's parliamentary session, Mauroof highlighted that the biggest issue facing schools is the lack of budget, which has hindered access to even the most basic teaching materials.
"The greatest challenge facing the Maldivian education sector is the budget deficit. We are seeing a situation where schools cannot obtain necessities or hold a single extracurricular activity without organising workdays and fundraising through the efforts of parents, teachers, and PTAs," he said.
He further alleged that the government’s legislative amendments aimed at cost-cutting are not for the public benefit. Instead, he claimed that funds are being diverted from education and other essential services to finance President Mohamed Muizzu’s personal interests.
Addressing the issue further, Mauroof noted that despite the substantial budget approved by Parliament, its utilisation remains unclear. He added that Members of Parliament are frequently contacted by schools seeking private sponsorships.
"Schools are now forced to seek sponsorships from major corporations for annual days, prize-giving ceremonies, and sporting events because they can no longer rely on the government budget," Mauroof said.
Since assuming office, the current administration has announced a series of fiscal reforms to reduce state expenditure. While these measures include cutting administrative and operational costs across government ministries and schools, several island schools had previously raised concerns regarding inadequate budgetary allocations.
