President pledges equal education standards for Malé and atolls

President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday said the government will work to bring the standard of education in Malé and the atolls to the same level.

He made the remarks while speaking at the official opening ceremony of Shaheed Ali School in Hulhumalé Phase Two.

The President said the government was working to improve education across the country and to ensure that schools in the islands reach the same standard as those in the capital.

Referring to student movement this year, he said more than 1,500 students had transferred from schools in the islands to schools in Malé.

He said this indicated a difference in the level of education between the islands and the capital.

“More than 1,500 children, which means more than 5,000 people, have moved from the islands to Malé to enrol their children in schools,” he said.

He said factors such as employment and housing also contributed to internal migration, and added that the government had begun work to distribute development across the country in a planned manner.

Addressing students, the President urged them to make use of the opportunities provided by the government.

He said students should follow the guidance of teachers and school principals and focus on their studies.

The new academic year began on Tuesday after the annual school holidays, with teaching resuming in 219 government schools.

More than 80,000 students from pre-school to Grade 12 are enrolled in government schools for the current academic year.