Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan has stated that the results of the government’s free degree programme will be seen in national-level decision-making and in the everyday lives of individuals.
Speaking at a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on National Development and Heritage, Minister Hassan said a total of 15,500 students have joined the free degree programme and 1,313 students have received scholarship opportunities abroad in the past three years.
Furthermore, Minister Hassan said that the administration conducted an assessment of the job market and the sectors most in need of workers. He said that data was gathered to determine the need for education and trained employees for government jobs as well as for tourism, construction, information and communications technology (ICT), and agriculture. He said that the surveys led to the government providing education and training opportunities to young people, which will result in revolutionary changes in the future.
Additionally, Minister Hassan highlighted the major developments in higher education including the establishment of education and training centres in the atolls, adding that the government has already begun work to build higher education centres in six islands. He also noted the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres, junior colleges, and polytechnic centres that are being built. He described the projects as part of a new level of development in the Maldives and said that positive results will be seen once the graduates move on to attain jobs in various sectors. He detailed that a new educated generation will make better decisions when voting and participating in decision-making at the national level.
A total of 412 students have participated in 134 education programmes abroad. Minister Hassan said the government has held discussions with a further 41 countries and signed agreements with 16 countries to provide higher education opportunities for Maldivians.