The academic year has commenced nationwide, welcoming approximately 90,000 students back to classrooms after a month-long holiday. Schools across the country greeted pupils warmly, signalling the start of another year dedicated to academic pursuits.
Nearly 84,000 students are enrolled in the nation's 217 government-operated schools, with Malé, the capital region, accommodating a disproportionately high share of the student population. This year, 33 percent of students are attending one of the 19 schools in Malé, while the region also accounts for 21 percent of the education workforce.
New admissions for Grade 1 reflect a similar concentration in the capital. According to the Ministry of Education, over 2,000 students have enrolled in Grade 1 within Malé this year, bringing the nationwide total to more than 5,000 for this grade level.
Patterns of student mobility underscore the educational dynamics of the country. Over 1,200 students have transferred from schools in the atolls to institutions in Malé, the ministry has said, further reinforcing the capital's central role in the nation's education system. In addition, more than 500 students have made intra-atoll transfers, moving between schools within their respective regions, the ministry said.
At the core of the academic infrastructure, 11,000 teachers are actively serving in the education sector this year, including 10,000 employed in government-run schools. According to the education ministry, the student-teacher ratio—one educator for every eight students—highlights the government's continued emphasis on delivering quality education.
Ensuring a smooth start to the academic year has been a priority for the education ministry. The distribution of essential resources, such as textbooks and supplies, was completed in advance to facilitate a seamless transition. However, staffing challenges remain a concern. Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu acknowledged the departure of several foreign teachers during the holiday period but underscored that recruitment efforts are ongoing to fill the resulting vacancies without disruption.
This academic year is set to conclude on 28 December, marking the end of the mid-year academic calendar. The government has announced plans to revert to a January start for the school year, reversing a policy introduced by the previous administration. Preparations for this transition are progressing, with the change expected to be fully implemented in the next academic year.