Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said the Government will begin reviewing the salary structure for teachers to address longstanding concerns raised by the profession, including issues linked to qualifications and career progression.

Speaking in Parliament, minister Dr Shafeeu said the review would be carried out in consultation with teachers to ensure the concerns surrounding the current pay structure are resolved. He described teachers as playing a vital role in nation-building and said reforms to their salary framework require broad engagement with the profession.

The Minister made the remarks in response to a question from Kendhoo Member of Parliament Mauroof Zakir, who sought clarification on when teachers who obtain master's degrees would become eligible for the corresponding qualification allowance under the current salary framework.

Minister Dr Shafeeu explained that one of the main concerns relates to teachers who receive step promotions after obtaining higher academic qualifications, only to experience a reduction in salary when they transition to the salary band applicable to master's degree holders. He said the issue arose because the salary framework did not adequately account for such situations when it was introduced.

He added that the Ministry is implementing step promotions in line with the existing salary framework but acknowledged that revisions are needed to resolve anomalies affecting teachers. While declining to place blame on any individual or administration, minister Dr Shafeeu assured that the current Government is committed to resolving the issue through the salary structure review.

Concerns over teachers' salaries have persisted since the introduction of the current pay framework. The Civil Service Commission has previously stated that such matters fall under the relevant salary policy, while teachers have consistently called for salaries to better reflect academic qualifications rather than years of service.