Cabinet Meeting: Discusses Consolidating Decentralization and Decides to Register and License Teachers

The Cabinet, in its meeting today, discussed the transition of administration of cities, atolls and islands to city councils, atoll councils and island councils that will be formed in accordance with the Article 8 of the Constitution and the Decentralization Act.

At the meeting, the Cabinet concurred that there were technical and administrative arrangements, in addition to legal requirements, that were necessary to be in place for the councils to commence their duties following their elections.

The country’s first ever local council elections were held on 5 February.

Following the discussions, the Cabinet drew up a timetable to complete the necessary technical and administrative details required to implement decentralization. A Cabinet Sub Committee was also appointed to oversee the completion of tasks on time.

At today’s meeting, members of the Cabinet also decided to register and license teachers working in the Maldives.

After considering the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub Committee formed to study a paper presented to the Cabinet earlier by the Ministry of Education, the members agreed that licensing teachers was important to improve the quality of education.

They also noted that registering and licensing teachers was critical to build public confidence in the quality of education, protect professional standards of teachers and establish a monitoring mechanism.

When the decision comes into effect, all teachers teaching in pre-school to higher secondary levels, school principals, technical staff in these levels, all those interested in teaching in schools of the Maldives will be required to register and acquire a license to teach.

Today’s meeting of the Cabinet was chaired by Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed as President Mohamed Nasheed is currently on a short vacation.