Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Privatizing Schools


Ministry of Education and Invest Maldives have announced opportunities for private investors in Maldivian schools. They told a group of 19 potential investors that four schools are up for grabs including Ameeru Ahmed and Ghiyaasuddin in Male, Afeefuddin in Kulhudhuffushi and Muhibbudin in Hithadhoo.

These four could evolve into elitist private schools like Eton or Doon Valley School, as Education Ministry hopes. But they could also flop like EPS, MES, Ameeru Ahmed and Nooraanee School, which were doing extremely well some years back. Do we know what went wrong with them and how to prevent such mishaps in the future ventures? The following are some issues worth pondering:

Affordability: Many parents pay as much as Rf 1500 rufiyaa per month per subject for private tuition. So they could afford higher school fees. That is the good news. The bad news is when it comes to paying school fees many parents consider even Rf 200 very high.

Quality: One has to pay good salaries to get good teachers. This can only happen if adequate fees are charged.

Government interference: Many private schools failed in the past because of government interference. Can the government resist the temptation to meddle in the new private schools, particularly when they would be operating in government buildings?

Discipline: This is the main problem with government schools. Can the private schools enforce discipline especially when many of their pupils will be the spoilt kids of rich parents?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

All these past years the goverment has been trying to kill private schools and they have just succeeded. Now let us see how they reverse this?

Anonymous said...

There are too many schools. Everyone does not have to study. some have to work too. what can you do with a U-set in O level?

Anonymous said...

I think the main problem with our education is that all senior educationalists and principals are educated in the western countries. If we replace them with locally trained principals or those trained in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, then children will learn Islaamee Rivethi Akhulaagu

Anonymous said...

To anon 7:18, I don't know if Arabic is perfect or not. but not much information is not available in Arabic. so if we teach in Arabic our children will be at a disadvantage.

Anonymous said...

Dear Dr. Waheed,

I see fundies using your space to deviate and create hatred. They could do it on their own blogs and not spoil your article and space. If I were you I would watch out for such comments.

Anonymous said...

a person who does not know even to write or read ARRBIC language, how I wonder, would he be able to understand that "most of the information is not availabe in ARABIC?

Anonymous said...

I don't believe what the government is trying to do is good for children and their future. We elected this government to deliver their promises regardless of whatever consequences they might face. Increasing government revenues and creating a sustainable foreign reserve was one of the promises of this government. But what we see today from the government is contradictory to what they promised for. Instead of coming up with plans to strengthen the financial and economic situation, it's doing the opposite. Can anyone tell me a single thing that the government did to improve the current financial situation and fining ways of increasing government revenues? What simple thing did the government do to reduce government expenditures? Nothing..absolutely nothing..this government sucks!

Anonymous said...

i beg to differ about the discipline part...cos now even when the students burn down places....have gang fight...bully each other in our prestigious public schools like majeedhiyaa , they cant expel these students...and the parents have no say....but with the private school ,if the school refuses to dicsipline students ...then why not all the other parents just leave...they can express themselves with their feet...

meekaaku said...

I think the success depends a lot on how much flexibility the govnt will give to the pvt management. The pvt management should have complete descretion including suspension and expell, sessions, teaching material (not the same as curriculum), methods, lab facilities etc.

MoE can devise the curriculum or part of curriculum that they want.

And more importantly, the parents should be given the choice to switch schools, thats the only thing that will keep the pvt management competitive. They will know of they dont do good, they are going to loose customers (ie students).

Anonymous said...

When Is Anni selling Aminiya with all the girls? I will bid the highest.

Anonymous said...

" three things you shouldnt privatize- public hospital, public schools and the national security forces, the rich might not need it, but the nation needs them" Prof Dr Md Thahir.

ashee said...

Assalamu Alaikum Brother..
Before u talk about tablighi jamaat,
jus see the curroption and misguidance practice and make us practice.

We are not superior to ALLAH's messengers,
so we cant take the decisions in our hands..

Going in the path of ALLAH was never in 3days,40 days or 4 months..
it is a BID'AH..
if u need more information,please visit http://www.fatwa-online.com/deviantgroups/jamaaahattableegh/0010101.htm
jazaakallah haira