Bill proposing amendments to Education Act to introduce homeschooling accepted, forwarded for committee review
2 ނޮވެމްބަރު 2026 | ހޯމަ 11:32Proposed amendments to the Education Act to introduce homeschooling in the Maldives specify that the option will be available to parents with the necessary financial means; however, opposition lawmakers have raised concerns that this could restrict the opportunity to wealthy families and potentially undermine certain employment rights. During the parliamentary debate, members emphasized the critical importance of establishing the homeschooling system through a robust and equitable framework to ensure it does not create social disparities.
A photograph showing a group of students sitting for an exam in an examination hall. | RaajjeMV
The Parliament has accepted a bill proposing amendments to the Education Act to introduce homeschooling and has forwarded it to a joint committee for further review. The bill will be scrutinized by a joint session of the Committee on National Development and Heritage and the Social Affairs Committee.
The Parliament has unanimously accepted the government-sponsored bill, introduced by Huraa constituency MP Dr. Anara Naeem, with all 41 members present voting in favor.
The bill outlines the primary criteria for a child to qualify for homeschooling. These conditions include the child having a physical or mental disability that prevents them from attending school, or other circumstances beyond physical or mental health issues that necessitate such an arrangement.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the child's parents must possess the financial capacity to provide education under a homeschooling program, and the child must be registered within the formal education system.
The bill also proposes an amendment to the Education Act to exempt children with conditions that prevent them from studying even through homeschooling from the requirement to receive a formal education.
During the debate on the bill, members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voiced significant concerns regarding the proposed legislation. While acknowledging that providing homeschooling opportunities for children with disabilities who face challenges attending school is essential, MDP members emphasized that such a system must be established within a robust framework. Some members further warned that passing the bill without these safeguards could lead to dangerous consequences.
Opposition members highlighted that while parents of children with special needs already endure significant hardships, the proposed amendments to the bill would effectively restrict homeschooling to the children of the wealthy. Members further noted that under Section 13(c) of the bill, certain rights currently guaranteed by the Employment Act would be undermined.
MDP members stated that the bill, in its current form, is unfit for passage due to these specific provisions.
