ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ is committed to ensuring that parenthood does not create a challenging barrier to higher education for students or career progression for staff. While dedicated, on-site childcare facilities are currently planned, the College has implemented a robust package of family-friendly policies and flexible provisions that serve as crucial support mechanisms, enabling recent mothers and fathers (students and staff) to participate fully in academic and professional life.
Provisions Enabling Student Access and Retention: The College’s procedural flexibility directly addresses the scheduling constraints and personal needs of students with young children, particularly women:
Academic Flexibility for New Mothers: The College leverages its established Personal Circumstance procedure to provide essential support. This procedure grants students, including recent mothers and those with infants, flexible academic arrangements, such as the option to temporarily switch to online learning when required, ensuring they can continue their studies without disruption.
Flexible Class Timetable: Recognizing the high percentage of working adult students with family responsibilities, class timings are thoughtfully arranged. This is particularly evident in programs like Nursing, where female participation is near universal, and schedules are adjusted to accommodate professional duty hours and family care needs.
Flexible Payment Options: The Finance Department provides flexible payment structures upon request, reducing the financial strain on students, especially recent mothers, thereby ensuring persistence and retention in their programs.
Supportive Policies for Staff and Faculty Engagement: The College’s formal employment policies ensure faculty and staff, who serve as mentors and lecturers, have the necessary support to maintain high levels of engagement while managing parental duties:
Maternity and Paternity Leave: In accordance with the Maldives Employment Act, female employees are granted sixty (60) days of paid maternity leave. Post-maternity leave, female employees receive two (2) daily 30-minute breaks to attend to their child until the child reaches one year of age. This supportive framework ensures staff can return to work without sacrificing the early bonding or nutritional needs of their infant.
Flexible Work Arrangements: The College offers work-from-home or flexible work arrangements for employees during high-risk or early-stage pregnancies, prioritizing the health and safety of staff.
Extended Parental Leave: The College offers flexibility for parents to take up to one year of unpaid leave (if both parents work at the college), promoting shared parental responsibility and long-term career stability.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination: ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ maintains a strong non-discrimination policy that protects the rights of all female employees, including those with childcare responsibilities, further ensuring a fair, supportive, and inclusive work environment.
ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ successfully implements numerous policies providing financial, academic, and procedural flexibility to support students and staff with childcare responsibilities. While awaiting the establishment of on-site facilities, these measures constitute provision for accessible childcare in the form of flexible support, qualifying the College for 0.25 points under this indicator.