Nearly 8,000 students miss school during World Cup, says education minister
The minister warned that continued absenteeism could lead to students losing the habit of attending school, creating challenges for both parents and teachers.
Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has expressed concern over a rise in student absenteeism during the ongoing World Cup, revealing that nearly 8,000 students have missed school since the tournament began.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at the launch of the National Assessment of Learning Outcomes Report for Key Stage 3 2025.
He said school attendance had declined following the start of World Cup matches, which are being broadcast during late-night and early morning hours in the Maldives.
Dr Shafeeu said regular attendance is essential for maintaining learning outcomes, adding that students who miss lessons are likely to see an impact on their academic performance.
He said the Ministry of Education has been monitoring daily attendance and absenteeism across the country through a new data platform introduced on 21 June.
"I understand that this is the World Cup season. However, having nearly 8,000 students missing school is a matter of serious concern for us," he said.
The minister warned that continued absenteeism could lead to students losing the habit of attending school, creating challenges for both parents and teachers.
He appealed to parents to ensure that children do not miss school because of football matches.
"Students enjoy watching World Cup matches, just as parents do. However, parents should not arrange schedules in a way that causes children to miss school," he said.
According to the minister, around 40 per cent of the students recorded as absent during the period are enrolled in schools in the Greater Malé area.
