President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conferred the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (O.D.R.I) upon Dr Mohamed Latheef. The honour was presented during the official ceremony commemorating the 61st Independence Day of the Maldives, held this morning.
Dr Latheef has devoted more than four decades to public service, with the greater part of his distinguished career dedicated to advancing the Maldives' education sector. His contributions have been instrumental in modernising the national education system, expanding access to higher education, and strengthening educational institutions across the country. He has also served in several of the State's highest offices, including as Minister of Education.
Over a career spanning more than 22 years in the education sector, Dr Latheef served in a wide range of leadership and policy roles. He played a pivotal role in curriculum development and in establishing national institutions for teacher education and professional development, including the Educational Development Centre and the Teacher Education Centre. He also made significant contributions to the development of the Maldives Centre for Management and Administration.
Dr Latheef was a principal architect of the Maldives' first and second Education Master Plans. He also led efforts to expand secondary education nationwide, introduce higher education in the Maldives, and improve educational quality through the implementation of a built-in supervision system. As Minister of Education, he played a leading role in establishing the Maldives College of Higher Education in 1998, laying the foundation for higher education in the country.
Beyond education, Dr Latheef has made notable contributions to the Maldives' foreign service. He served as Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Maldives in Sri Lanka and as the Maldives' Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He also participated in the United Nations reform process and played a key role in formulating and implementing the national strategy that led to the Maldives' graduation from the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Dr Latheef was also instrumental in developing the Maldives Civil Service Commission and the establishment of the country's modern civil service. As a member, and subsequently President, of the Civil Service Commission, he played a central role in strengthening and modernising the Maldivian civil service.
Most recently, Dr Latheef served as Chancellor of the Maldives National University. He also served as a member of both the People's Majlis and the Special Majlis.
Dr Latheef obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Planning from the University of Wales, United Kingdom, in 1992. He also holds a Master of Education from the University of Wales.