There is virtually no access to or transition to secondary level education for children with
disabilities. As a priority a class for special education at secondary level needs to be established
in the Maldives. It is noted that it will be difficult to create access to secondary education in all
islands as most of the islands are sparsely populated and supporting separate special education
classes may not be feasible. Hence, it is important to consider initiatives such as providing support to family to move to islands where there are residential learning facilities established by the
Ministry of Education
Another challenge facing young people with disabilities and their parents is the lack of
planned transitions from school to work, vocational training, tertiary education or other
meaningful day-time activities. Young people who attend the special education classes and
their parents now face uncertainty as they move out of education where their son or daughter
had a daily activity and received support into an adult world where there is no such organization
and support available. With the right assistance, young persons with disabilities can make better
transitions from school to adult life.
9.4 Lack of health facilities and services
Human resources and facilities required to address mental health is lacking. There is no
mental health authority, mental hospital or mental health clinic in the Maldives. The only
ACTIVITIES ADDRESSING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
out-patient facility for mental health is at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Male’. There
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are only two psychiatrists working in the country and both work at the outpatient facility at
IGMH. There are no psychiatrists at any of the regional hospitals or in the private sector. The
two psychiatrists make monthly visits to the Home for People with Special Needs in Guraidhoo.
There are trained psychologists in the Maldives but none of them work directly for mental
health services. Most of them work in the area of drug rehabilitation.
9.5 Lack of access to quality residential care
There were more than 31 persons with disabilities waiting to get a place at the Home for
People with Special Needs in March 2010. Paradoxically there were 31 patients at residential
care in Guraidhoo who are discharged but not taken home. Out of these 31 patients, one was
discharged in 2002, six were discharged in 2003, three were discharged in 2004, and four were
discharged in 2005. Although there are entry and exit policies for residential care at the Home