The Ministry of Higher Education has introduced a new policy governing the recruitment of foreign teachers for subjects and areas where qualified Maldivian teachers are unavailable.
The policy, gazetted on Sunday, aims to ensure the quality of foreign recruits and establish a transparent recruitment process.
Under the policy, a five-member committee must be formed within one month to oversee the recruitment of foreign teachers. The committee members will be appointed by the Minister of Higher Education.
The policy bars certain individuals from serving on the committee, including:
- Employees directly involved in teacher recruitment
- Anyone employed by, holding shares in, or occupying a senior management position within a recruitment agency.
The committee must comprise of two school principals and three ministry employees at rank eight or above from the ministry or its departments.
The policy also sets out the committee's responsibilities, procedures for selecting recruitment agencies and the terms governing the employment of foreign teachers.
Foreign teachers are to be recruited through approved agencies. However, the ministry may recruit teachers directly if the committee determines that doing so is appropriate.
The policy further prohibits the charging of recruitment fees to foreign teachers hired under the policy.
