Ahmadhiyya School's auditing welcome: Principal

The Education Ministry's decision to request the Auditor General's Office to audit Ahmadiyya International School is a welcome one, the school said on Wednesday.

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu requested the audit office to conduct an audit of the school after questions were raised whether a district school could be run on an international level.

Ahmadhiyya School's principal Mohamed Rasheed told local media outlet Mihauru that he had directly requested the Auditor General's Office to audit the school two years ago. However, it was not possible at the time as the school was not directly run by the government, he said.

Rasheed said the school, which already has 2,400 students, is audited from time to time by private parties. He also revealed that the school was preparing to have the school audited next with via a private party next month when the government made its decision.

Private audits cost the school's budget MVR 200,000, he said, adding that the government's initiative would be a financial relief for the school. As such the decision is very welcome, the principal said.

However, he appreciation did not come without concern that targeting the school alone hints at a motive to discredit the school.

Ahmadhiyya School was upgraded to international standards in 2015 during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.

Rasheed said the school charges lower fees than other private schools even today, and that the income generated from these fees go towards developing the school, highlighting the ten storey building being constructed within the school's premises as an example.

The building will be completed and teaching will start there this year, the school said.

“Ahmadhiyya is not a place where profits are distributed,” Rasheed said.

The Ministry of Education had previously paid MVR 3,600 per month for A Level students. However, the figure has now been reduced to MVR 2,500. Rasheed said it was a huge loss to reduce school fees when the school was in the process of constructing the new building.

Financial matters are also handled very transparently, he said. When making major decisions, the school always seeks its parent entity, Malé City Council's blessings, Rasheed explained.

At Ahmadhiyya, major decisions are made by a board comprising of the school's PTA, district office, and one representative of the school from each key stage.