President Dr Mohamed Muizzu increased the number of students studying in the Advanced Level (A-level) in government schools by 77 percent, the Minister of Eduction Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said. The Minister made the remark while addressing at the 5th session of the High Achievers Award Ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister attributed the increase to a pilot programme launched by the President since taking Office. He also spoke on the need to increase the number of students enrolled in A-level programmes, highlighting that number of students who sat the A-level examination increased by 106 students in 2024 compared to the previous year. He noted that the Education Ministry is actively working to increase the number of Maldivian students accepted by the world’s top universities and colleges.
Minister Shafeeu said a pilot programme was launched by the government in 23 atolls, aiming to increase the number of students enrolled in A-level programmes. With the success of this programme, the number of students studying A-level increased by 77 percent compared to the previous year, he noted.
"The number of students studying A-Level in government schools increased by 77 percent this year compared to the previous year. When accounting for effort by the Ministry, public private partnerships and private schools, the increase in A-level students is 38 percent,” the Minister said.
The Minister noted a significant number of students are still deprived of A-level education. He said the Eduction Ministry is working to extend the programme held in the atolls to students who completed their Ordinary-level (O level) exams this year, and also hold the programme in Male’. The Centre for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) buildings in Male’ and Hullhumale’ can accommodate the programme, he said.
The Minister said the long-term aim of this government is to eliminate the policy of exclusion of students, and including Grades 11 and 12 as part of the national schooling pathway.