Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has raised concerns regarding the decision made by the previous administration to change the start of the academic year, despite opposition from a significant majority of consulted individuals.
Addressing queries in Parliament regarding the alteration of the academic calendar, Minister Shafeeu revealed that around 30,000 individuals were consulted regarding the adjustment. He stressed that the government considered various factors before making the decision, including the approach taken by the previous administration. Notably, he highlighted that despite 70% of the consulted individuals opposing the change, it was implemented nonetheless, leading to dissatisfaction among students and parents.
Additionally, Minister Shafeeu explained that the current administration has opted to shift the start of the academic year to January. This decision aims to compensate for the six-month interruption in schooling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He clarified that the adjustment seeks to avoid overlapping between the academic and financial years, addressing an additional concern.
Moreover, Minister Shafeeu acknowledged concerns raised regarding the impact of the calendar change on students' health, physical activities, and extracurricular engagements. He acknowledged shortcomings in the planning of extracurricular activities and stressed the importance of implementing measures to address these concerns. Despite the calendar change, Minister Shafeeu assured that steps will be taken to enhance the mental and physical well-being of teachers.
The decision by the previous government to postpone the academic year was motivated by the peak tourism season in December, allowing vacation time for resort employees. However, the current government has chosen to transition the academic year to commence in January starting from 2026.