In a strategic move to reverse the declining proficiency of the Dhivehi language among young children, the Minister of Education, Dr Ismail Shafeeu officially launched the National Early Learning Programme, emphasising the urgent need for quality linguistic resources tailored for infants and early learners.
Speaking at the programme’s official launch, Minister Shafeeu highlighted a growing societal concern over the erosion of children’s speaking and reading abilities in Dhivehi.
"Unfortunately, little has been invested in improving the quality of the Dhivehi language of children," he stated, underscoring the lack of age-appropriate books, educational films, and audiobooks in the national language.
He stressed that early childhood—particularly primary school age—is a critical window for language development, yet the market remains severely understocked with suitable materials.
He called on Maldivian writers, artists, and local businesses to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to produce high-quality Dhivehi content, noting that such efforts are vital not only for education but also for cultural preservation.
As part of this national initiative, the Ministry’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme—developed in partnership with the National Institute of Education (NIE)—has already produced, digitised, and distributed 15 new Dhivehi-language children’s books to all primary schools across the country, marking a significant step toward strengthening foundational literacy in the mother tongue.