President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has emphasised that fostering intellectual development, particularly in young children, is essential for holistic national development.
He made these remarks at the ‘Rayyithunnaa Eku Kuriah – Hafthaa 104’ official function held at the Maldives Centre for Social Education (MCSE) to mark the Administration’s second anniversary.
In his address, the President highlighted that the Government’s education policy aims to build a holistic and inclusive system that nurtures young children with a strong sense of national identity, which they can proudly pass on to future generations. He stressed that this can only be achieved through comprehensive and well-structured policies, citing the introduction of nationalism into the academic curriculum from the earliest stages of education.
President Dr Muizzu also underscored that the education sector should be led by local teachers, noting the high number of expatriate teachers currently in the Maldives. To this end, he announced a major initiative to train additional local teachers, with 190 students currently undergoing teaching training and receiving special allowances.
The President further noted that the national pass rate for Grade 10 students has improved significantly, rising from 31 per cent in 2023 to 49 per cent in 2025, attributing this progress to the dedicated efforts across the education system.
He outlined the three pathways available for students completing secondary education to progress to higher studies: academic, vocational, and work-based apprenticeship routes. He also detailed plans to increase the number of schools offering O-Level and A-Level education, and to extend school graduation from Grade 10 to Grade 12.
The President stated that one of the Administration’s key commitments to improving education was the decision to revert the academic year commencement to January. He noted that changes introduced by the previous administration had caused students to lose six months of learning and explained that deliberate measures had been taken to ensure students graduate on time and begin the new academic year in January 2026.
President Dr Muizzu announced that primary students will be assessed using an international test by the end of next year, with pilot benchmarking work scheduled to begin in November. He also confirmed that construction of a new school in Hulhumalé is underway and will open in the next academic year. Efforts continue to complete new school buildings and strengthen the school network, enabling more schools to transition to a single-session model.
The President noted that 65 new projects have been formalised and are underway, in addition to 150 ongoing projects in the education sector. He reiterated that higher education remains one of the Government’s top priorities, with 26 projects underway to establish Maldives National University campuses and 12 projects approved to establish Islamic University of Maldives campuses across the country. He stressed that development should not be focused solely on Malé, emphasising that all citizens, regardless of where they live, are equal in his eyes.
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, State dignitaries, and senior Government officials.
