Ministry of Education has denied reports that the ministry is planning on bringing in teachers from abroad to teach Islam in Maldivian schools.
In response to the reports, the education ministry said discussions were held with the May 6 Committee regarding the recommendation in the May 6 inquiry report by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services on changing the syllabus for the subject Islam in local schools, as part of efforts to fight religious extremism. However, the ministry said there are no plans to bring in teachers from abroad to teach the subject, as the syllabus is prepared in Dhivehi and there are good local teachers for the subject.
Islam is a mandatory subject from grades 1-12 in all local schools. The subject is part of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations taken at the end of 10th grade, and the Higher-Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examinations taken at the end of 12th grade.