Speaking to officiate last year’s prize day of Noonu Atoll Kudafari School this morning, President Mohamed Nasheed appealed for involvement from parents and teachers in students’ education.

Addressing the people of Kudafari at the ceremony, the President, referring to the government’s electoral pledges, assured that the foremost objective of the government was serving the people.

In this regard, the President elaborated on the objectives of the country’s national development plans, based on the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s election manifesto, that consisted of the developmental projects to be carried out between 2009 and 2013.

In his speech, President Nasheed emphasised that realizing the government’s aim to ensure that at least 60 percent of students passed 5 subjects in GCE Ordinary Level Exam was crucial for the growth and progress of the country.

He also shared the programmes available for students who were unable to pass 5 subjects and explained the skills and vocational training programmes carried out by the government for youth. He added that Maldivian employers had to turn to expatriates because of lack of skilled locals, and Maldivian youth were not provided vocational training and basic job skills in schools.

In his address today, the President underlined the new ‘Smart School’ model launched yesterday with the inauguration of Kudafari School as the first ‘Smart School’.

Smart Schools use information and communication technologies and multimedia to enhance teacher-student interaction, and provide students, students of different levels, especially in small schools, to interact with other classes and schools. These schools also promote use of technology to overcome barriers to quality education due to smaller size of schools through ICT connectivity between other schools.

Further, the President pointed out the need to improve the management and teaching techniques as well as the peoples’ attitudes, to boost the pass rate.

At the ceremony held at Kudafari School, the President presented prizes to high achieving students of the school over the past year.