Schools preparing to reopen to new normal

Officials at schools across the Maldives have been told to prepare to reopen to a new normal.

A circular sent to the schools, signed by Education Minister Aishath Ali, highlighted that preparations are underway to restart classes at schools.

Noting that various discussions have been held with all relevant authorities over the matter, the circular said that preparations to reopen schools was launched as per the counsel of the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

While schools are to be opened to a new normal, class sizes and grades to be taught are to be determined based on the island’s population as well as the Covid-19 situation.

The circular also outlined a number of measures to be taken, to ensure the safety of students and school officials.

According to the ministry, schools will only be reopened after HPA gives the greenlight to do so.

At a press briefing held by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in late May, spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz had stated that schools will reopen after first term holidays “at the earliest”.

While schools have been closed following the Covid-19 pandemic, as per the academic calendar 2020, the first term holidays are from May 31 to June 11. While June 11 is a Thursday, the second term is to start on June 14 after the weekend.

Schools went on mid-term holidays shortly after the detection of the country's first Covid-19 case and even though this was from a resort, authorities made the decision to delay the reopening of schools on March 11. However, with the declaration of the public health emergency, schools were closed indefinitely.

While work is underway to restart sessions at schools, the education ministry has been conducting online classes.