Addu City, Maldives – Asian Academy of Aeronautics’ instructors who have not been paid since last month, have gone on strike.
Due to the protests that started on last Saturday, Addu flying school stated that the instructors would be given their salaries, on Monday. Instructors returned to work following this, but continued with the strike after the flying school negated on their end of the bargain.
Whilst a date for giving salaries to instructors has still not been confirmed, the school’s CEO and Head of Training Suranjan De Silva, stated that a meeting is to be held today.
Even last year, the employees of AAA had protested due to salaries not being paid.
Not only instructors, but the students studying in AAA have also expressed their concern about to the lack of equipment and materials in the school since the last six months, in the statement released yesterday condemning the government and parliament.
The student union calls out various government authorities and the parliament for their inaction. The Gender Ministry has been informed of the flying school harassing its students 3 months ago with no action being taken. While Education Minister Dr. Ibrahim Hassan has promised that AAA students will be provided the opportunity to continue their education abroad, Transport Minister Aishath Nahula pledged to take action against the school for negligence towards the students, with no action being taken since by either ministry. Similarly, the parliament simply released a report on the problems faced with no follow up action.
In their statement, the AAA Students Union note that the course which was supposed to be completed in 18 months has now been extended to four years. While the issue was brought to the attention of the authorities, no solution has been found, leaving the students and parents in limbo.
