Minister of Education Dr. Aishath Ali says the ministry would be increasing school hours from 4 to 5 in COVID-19 free islands across the country.
Speaking to the media at the latest news briefing by the HEOC, Dr. Aishath said that when the schools in the Atolls reopened after the nationwide lockdown, students attended 4-hour sessions but now would be attending for five hours.
She noted that this change would only be implemented in COVID-free islands and that said that the increase in schooling hours would be beneficial to students.
The Minister added that physical interactions between the teachers and students yielded far greater results than any online classroom can afford.
Recapping the change in schooling brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Aishath said schools across the country were closed for a long time back in March and only the schools in the Atolls reopened in July.
She said that while in Atolls students studying in grades 1 to 12 attended physical sessions while in the Greater Male’ Area only students from grades 9 to 12 were allowed to attend school.
She said but with the surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital city in the Month of August, schools were again closed on August 9th. She also said sessions for grades 11 and 12 continued as their A’Level exams drew close and are set to begin next Monday.
She added the Ministry and the schools were preparing for these international exams.
The Education Minister also confirmed that schools in the Male’ Area are set to reopen again this month and students of grades 9 and 10 would begin attending sessions on the 4th of this month.
