President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on top achievement winners to pursue knowledge and specialise in essential fields for national development. He made the remarks while speaking at the Top Achievers' Award 2020-2021 ceremony.
Speaking at the function, President Solih advised students to be aware of current affairs, cautious of the spread of different ideologies, and vigilant towards the different tides around them. He also called on students to utilise their youthful spirit to uphold and promote Islamic values and patriotism.
Attributing the success of the top achievers to the hard work and dedication of the schools and parents, President Solih acknowledged the struggles of teachers and parents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in Maldivian students attaining outstanding results on the international stage. He also extended his gratitude to the teachers and parents for these results, crediting them for their dedication and hard work.
Furthermore, President Solih spoke about the importance of providing the opportunity for the students to deliver results and service to the nation. The president noted the achievements of the administration's decentralisation policies and called on students to consider working and serving the country in their home islands, closer to their parents and families. He also spoke about the initiatives to modernise and advance the education sector.
Maldivian students broke previous records in the higher secondary and secondary examinations in 2020-2021. A total of 5,955 students sat the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and secondary examinations, while another 2,641 students took the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and higher secondary examinations.
Meanwhile, a total of 757 students in the secondary examinations were included in the national top 10 rankings, while 13 were in the world's top 10 for individual subject achievements. Six students won the High Achievement Award. In the higher secondary examinations, 348 students were placed in the national top 10, and 41 students won places in the world's top 10 for individual subject achievements.