Govt Plans Fundamental Shift in Education, Rooted in Islamic Knowledge and Global Relevance, Vice President Asserts

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has said that the government is undertaking a fundamental reorientation of the Maldivian education system, urging it to move beyond the transfer of information and instead cultivate wisdom, responsibility, and values rooted in Islam.

At the opening of the Seminar on Islamic Leadership and Integration of Knowledge, held at the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM), Vice President Latheef affirmed the government’s commitment to education reform and human capital development. He said that building a knowledge-based and value-driven society is central to the nation’s progress.

The vice president announced that the government is pursuing a major strategic objective: to restructure the national educational framework so that it is more deeply grounded in Islamic knowledge and wisdom, while ensuring that it remains competitive on the international stage.

He described the development of an educational system structured on Islamic principles, yet delivered in a manner that meets global standards, as the foremost priority for the country. In building human capital across Islamic nations, he said, the highest emphasis must be placed upon the foundations of Islam.

The three-day seminar, inaugurated by Vice President Latheef, brings together the Islamic University of Maldives, the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). He acknowledged the significant contributions of IIUM and IIIT in disseminating knowledge across the Islamic world and in shaping communities grounded in Islamic fundamentals, noting that the Maldives is making progress in this area.

In his address, Vice President Latheef described the seminar as a vital endeavour toward constructing a society illuminated by Islamic knowledge. He reiterated that the government prioritises the development of human resources through education, stressing that cultivating individuals grounded in Islamic knowledge is critical in a rapidly changing world.

"This seminar, organised jointly by IIUM, IIIT, and IUM, represents a very important undertaking for building a society illuminated by Islamic knowledge. The government prioritises the development of human capital guided by education. In this rapidly changing world, cultivating individuals based on Islamic knowledge is exceedingly critical," stated Vice President Latheef.

He added that the collaboration between IUM, IIUM, and IIIT exemplifies the spirit of unity and shared purpose among Muslim nations. The Maldives, he said, welcomes such partnerships, which promote Islamic and humanitarian values while strengthening institutional ties.

International delegates reinforced the vice president’s message by highlighting the link between knowledge and leadership. Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bin Bakar, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, remarked that individuals of knowledge will invariably lead the way. He stressed the importance for aspiring leaders to seek knowledge grounded in Tawheed.

Professor Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Secretary General of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, underscored that the progress of any community is directly tied to knowledge, but cautioned that knowledge lacks power if it is not applied. Offering a historical perspective, he noted that Europe’s development in science, industrialisation, and communication was rooted in knowledge acquired from Islamic civilisations. He attributed Europe’s advancement to its practice of seeking knowledge and acting upon it, concluding that the Islamic Ummah must now build societies that actively leverage the knowledge they possess.

The seminar is designed to advance these objectives. Over its three-day duration, it will feature workshops led by technical experts on economics, business, and human resource development, all grounded in Islamic fundamentals. The IUM anticipates that this intensive programme will prepare participants to introduce meaningful and beneficial changes to Maldivian society.