A veteran teacher at the school in Mathiveri island of Alif Alif atoll has been dismissed for teaching whilst wearing a niqab.

Aishath Suzy, 30, has been a primary teacher at Mathiveri School for over seven years.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) sent her dismissal letter last Thursday, citing violation of the commission’s regulations as the reason for dismissal.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education had warned her against teaching whilst wearing the niqab.

Many parents of her students expressed their discontent over the education ministry’s warning, while some even withheld their children from going to school in protest of the ministry’s “absurd” request.

Since the education ministry’s warning, Suzy had stopped teaching at the school. However, she continued to participate in school activities till she received her official letter of dismissal.

In January 2017, the education ministry had also dismissed a teacher in Rasdhoo island, also in Alif Alif atoll, for teaching whilst wearing a niqab.