Education Ministry Vows to Crack Down on Unexcused Student Absences

In a stern parliamentary response that has reignited debate over school attendance, Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu told the Parliament that principals will be required to identify and take disciplinary action against any student who misses school without a valid reason.

The Minister’s announcement came after Milandhoo MP Hassan Mufeed pressed the government on the rising number of pupils who have been skipping classes. 

“If a student is not going to school, we have to find out why,” Dr Ismail Shafeeu said, repeating the point for emphasis.

“For example, a student may not go to school because he or she is sick or has the flu. It is not right for a child not to go to school for any reason.”

During a meeting with school principals last week, the Minister said he instructed them to compile lists of students who are absent without explanation and to enforce the Ministry’s attendance policy. 

“We asked them to identify students who are not attending school for any reason and take action against them,” he explained.

The attendance policy, which has been in place for several years, stipulates that schools must report absences that exceed three days or a long absence period of ten days. However, Dr Ismail Shafeeu acknowledged that the monitoring mechanism has weakened since the MDP administration returned to power. 

“The most severe measures were taken against students who did not go to school during the PPM government,” he noted. “

However, with the MDP coming to power again, the monitoring mechanism has deteriorated significantly.”

To reverse the trend, the Ministry launched an initiative in July this year requiring schools to submit daily attendance reports. 

“With an earlier effort by the Ministry in July this year, students’ attendance will now have to be sent to school every day,” he said, underscoring the new level of scrutiny.

At the launch of the National Assessment of Learning Outcomes Report for Keystage‑3 2025 on Thursday, the Minister expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in the number of students not attending school. 

He highlighted that a large number of students are not attending school during the FIFA World Cup, suggesting that major sporting events may be contributing to informal absenteeism.

Statistical data reveal that roughly 40 percent of the students who are currently absent without reason come from schools in the Male’ metropolitan area.