Risk allowance for SEN teacher to be reinstated

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced today that the risk allowance for SEN (Special Educational Needs) teachers will be reinstated.

The President's Office's daily "President's Answer" featured a SEN teacher who teaches children special needs. Aishath Shaufa from Meemu atoll Mulah expressed her concern today over the shortage of teachers in the area and the reduction in their risk allowance last year.

President Muizzu emphasized that training SEN teachers to educate students with special needs is a crucial policy of the government. He said that training for teachers in this field and other fields with limited personnel will commence in the middle of this year.

"We will give special priority to SEN teachers and train them in the field," he said.

SEN teachers stopped receiving risk allowance due to changes in the pay structure as part of the new pay framework for teachers implemented by the previous government. Teachers had expressed concern about it during that time as well.

"However, I would like to say that the government will provide a risk allowance or a special additional financial allowance to SEN teachers," the President said.

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu had earlier announced that a national project to increase the number of Maldivian teachers in the education sector would soon be initiated.

The previous government increased the salaries of teachers and principals in May 2022, citing pay not being equivalent to their work as one of the reasons for the decline in the number of locals entering the education sector. However, colleges and universities reported no significant changes in the number of students pursuing the field of education.