President Dr Mohamed Waheed has called on all Maldivians to strengthen national character and revive the spirit of nationhood. He made this appeal in his address to the nation on the occasion of National Day. He also called on all citizens to promote and nourish Maldivian culture in bringing up our children and in our familial and social relations.
The President said, on this special occasion, it was important to reflect on the current political challenges. He said peace and security of the country would depend on how we prioritize national interests.
“No matter how strong political rivalry is, we must not allow it to create any difficulties to the people. Developmental efforts must not be hindered”, said the President.
Continuing in this regard, the President said we must not allow the country to fall into destruction while protecting the interest of an individual or a group of people. He added that no person should be allowed to destroy the country’s social fabric or tarnish the country’s image.
In his speech, the President also spoke on the changing demographics of the country. He said, as the youth population and the number of school leavers have increased over the years, unemployment rate had also increased. He further noted an increase in school drop-outs with no skills or training.
Highlighting the importance of increasing employment opportunities, the government’s policy was to facilitate all students under 18 years of age to participate in some form of academic program.