The Ministry of Education has decided against the termination of four teachers who participated in opposition rallies in Gaafu Dhall atoll Thinadhoo and Gaafu Alif atoll Villingili, calling for the release of detained opposition parliamentarians.
The ministry had initially warned Ahmed Ashraf and Nasrullah Afeef of Thinadhoo Atoll Education Centre and Shazmeena Siyam and Aishath Raqeeba of Villingili Education Centre that they would face termination for taking part in an opposition protest and “actively advocating the release of detainees”.
However, the ministry sent letters to the four teachers Monday, stating they will not be dismissed from their posts at the schools. However, the education ministry stated that it was a “warning” for the teachers and requested them to refrain from participating in such gatherings again.
The initial warnings to the teachers had sparked public outrage from the citizens of the islands. Parents of Thinadhoo education centre’s students had protested outside the school over the ministry’s decision to dismiss Ashraf and Nasruallah, who are leading teachers, just months before the O’ Level and A’ Level examinations.
Protests also took place in Villingili and an island councilor defended Shazmeena and Raqeeba, explaining, “They weren’t really taking part in the rally. They ran in to us whilst we were protesting on the road. They were on their motorbikes with their children. But because we had occupied most of the road, they were driving alongside us till they could take a turn and move away. And it so happened that when they were caught with the protestors, someone decided to take a picture and report it to the ministry.”
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