Tribunal rules dismissal of teacher who refused to teach dance ‘unlawful’

Employment Tribunal has ruled the dismissal of a teach from AA. Ukulhas, who was fired for refusing to teach students to dance for the school concert, as unlawful.

In November 2022, three teachers from Ukulhas School were suspended for refusing to teach dance to students.

The school later lifted the suspension, and dismissed one of the teachers; Aishath Shuhaila.

She filed a case with the Employment Tribunal.

According Shuhaila, she was suspended for 14 days on November 17, 2022, based of claims she had openly flouted school activities held to achieve the targets of the national curriculum, and rejected the school’s instructions.

After the suspension expired, she was told to return to work on December 8, and was given a 10-day notice of termination.

She asked that the tribunal declare her dismissal unlawful, and has on discriminatory policies that infringe on her rights and violate the laws and regulations of the country.

She asked to be reinstated to her position as a teacher, and given her salary from the date of her dismissal to her reinstatement.

The tribunal found on Thursday that Shuhaila was suspended in violation of civil service regulations.

The tribunal also found that while the law requires for employers to take disciplinary action before they are dismissed, the school had failed to do so, resulting in the school’s failure to establish procedural justice.

The tribunal ordered the school to pay the salary she would have been due as requested, within 21 says.