Teachers no longer required to work on holidays

Education Ministry has instructed schools not to ask teachers to report for work on holidays and Fridays.

In a circular sent by the ministry to all schools, they said the government has made the decision to stop bringing in teachers for work on Fridays and government holidays.

"Therefore, we request all offices and schools under the ministry to make arrangements such that employees are not required to work on Fridays and government holidays", read the circular signed by Minister Aishath Ali.

However, teachers who wish to work on tasks handed over to them by the school to celebrate a national occasion can do so with the ministry's permission, it said.

The ministry's decision comes while teachers have been complaining for years regarding the long hours they are expected to work. In addition to official work hours, teacher are expected to conduct extra-curricular activities, which frequently requires them to attend school on holiday and weekends.

It is a pledge of the current government to increase teachers' allowances. Minister Aishath Ali has recently announced that changes have been brought to the salary framework in a bid to increase remuneration of teachers.

The ministry is also working on bringing positive changes to the overtime policies, and additional allowances and incentives will be given to teachers in the future, said the Minister.