:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Teaching English in Maldives: a plan that worked

by International Editor Michael O'Shea, 18 October 2004

Early in 1998, Maldivians were surprised by a high O level pass rate for English language at the government secondary school in Hithadhoo island on Addu (Seenu) atoll. Instead of the usual 17-19% pass, nearly 50% of Hithadhoo students passed O level English. The following year, the pass rate had returned to the usual low percentage. What was the reason for this sudden surge of success?

This writer was teaching English at that school in 1996 and 1997. Here is what happened:

The head of the English department during 1996 was a highly experienced teacher from UK. She had a deep understanding of the UK's O level requirements and helped establish more appropriate teaching methods for that important exam. Most of the other English teachers were from India and Sri Lanka. They were highly experienced and professional, and they responded quickly to the specialised knowledge their UK head brought to the department.

More than two thousand second-hand books were purchased by the school, and once they were catalogued and on the shelves, the school library was one of the best in Maldives. There was also a large resource of educational videos for teachers. During 1997, students flocked to the library and reading became popular and admired behaviour.

The new head of the English department was a Maldivian with good language skills but no extensive teaching experience. However, she knew how to handle difficult inter-staff relationships and she encouraged her colleagues to co-operate together. There were approximately 12 English teachers.

The professionalism of the Sri Lankan and Indian English teachers was recognised and they were allowed to exercise their own judgment in their work. The relationship between the department's teachers became one of collaboration. The practice of teachers informing on each other and engaging in bitter personal disputes ceased to be encouraged in the English department. Teachers concentrated on their work with virtually no serious feuding. Some other large teaching departments at the school continued to suffer badly from internal wrangling.

Students quickly learned that complaining about their English teachers got them nowhere. They also began to concentrate on their work. Students acted in plays, wrote poetry and held open discussions in English. Joking and freely expressing themselves in English, the students learnt the language fast as they competed in a friendly and tolerant school environment.

The O level class at that school in 1997 was not exceptionally talented, but it achieved the highest results ever in the history of Maldives.

Some of the Maldivian teachers in the other departments were jealous and bitter about the success and popularity of the English department. They spread false rumours among the local population, refused to associate in a friendly way with the English teachers and did what they could to harass the department. Some Maldivian teachers openly criticised the use of English as anti-nationalistic, while encouraging use of English within their own families.

Many of the English teaching staff left Maldives at the end of 1997. Pass rates returned to the old low level.