In his weekly radio address, President Mohamed Nasheed has discussed special measures that are needed to be taken to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for tertiary education to 40 per cent over the next five years.

The Gross Enrolment Ratio is a measure that shows the general level of enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

“International organizations have been telling that developing countries must increase their GER to 40 – 50 per cent in order for them to be successful in the new world economy,” he said.

President Nasheed stated increasing GER would require reforms in school system and increasing enrolment at upper secondary level.

He noted that out of every 4 students, 3 took up the commerce stream, and as a result, they had limited opportunities for employment and higher education.

The President laid out some of the measures that the government plans to take to increase the GER.

He said one of the first measures was to pass the Maldives National University Bill as soon as possible.

As a second measure he noted identifying research work that is currently done at government offices, and transferring such work to the national university to be established.

Stating that for developed countries there was one doctor for every 1000 people, he noted the Maldives required 340 doctors.

“To provide quality healthcare services, it is crucial to start medicine courses in the Maldives.”

If the Maldives did not start medicine courses, he added, it would face a number of challenges to expand healthcare.

President also said the government aimed to provide loans for higher education outside the country. He added the government would give loans to 50 students for nursing and other medicine courses.

Another measure that the President mentioned was starting degree courses in new areas such as architecture, quantitative surveying and town planning.

The President identified capacity building in the judiciary as another important area.

“To improve this sector, I held discussions with the German government during my recent visit. Under assistance from Germany, a project is designed, [and] is to be submitted to concerned authorities Tuesday,” said the President.

He added that under the project, the current courses would be reviewed; a new master’s course in law would be designed; orientation training would be given; [college] library would be developed; and, a model courtroom is to be made.

The President said the success of those plans and measures greatly depended on the College of Higher Education. He stated the College Rector Dr Hassan Hameed and Vice Rector Hussain Haleem were qualified people.