Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has announced that more than 130 students have enrolled in the National Teacher Training Programme this year. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, he noted that the initiative, launched in March with support from UNICEF, has been a success.
The minister highlighted that teacher shortages are a significant challenge in the Maldivian education system. To address this, the government has launched a programme aimed at encouraging students to pursue teaching careers from an early age. The National Teacher Training Programme, supported by UNICEF, started in March by identifying and selecting students with a strong interest in teaching.
Dr. Shafeeu shared that over 130 students from 21 islands have shown interest in the programme. He also underscored the pressing need for teachers, revealing that there is currently a shortage of 250 teachers for primary grades alone.
"The President’s manifesto clearly outlines the launch of a national teacher training programme. One of its primary objectives is to address teacher shortages across various subjects,” the minister said.
Providing statistics, Dr. Shafeeu noted that teacher shortages are particularly severe in upper-grade subjects, especially in the science subjects. He expressed concern over the declining number of students sitting for science exams and the persistently low results in mathematics and science, hoping that the new training programme would help tackle these issues.
He added that the government is committed to realising students’ aspirations for higher education opportunities within their own islands. Designed in collaboration with the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) and Villa College, the programme has already attracted nearly 140 students this year. The minister expressed optimism that by next year, around 150 students would seize the opportunity to study on the islands through the programme.