School students have visited project sites where engineering works are under way as part of activities to mark Engineering Day.
Information sessions were also held for schoolchildren as part of the celebrations. Schools from a total of 164 islands across the Maldives took part in the activities.
The programme, led by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development was carried out in collaboration with state-owned companies.
As part of the programme, activities were held in Male' as well as across the atolls.
In Male', students from CHSE and Male' Vocational High School were given an opportunity to see the progress of work on the ThilaMale' Bridge. They were also provided with technical information about the major engineering project and given the opportunity to visit the bridge construction sites. A total of 45 students participated in the activity.
In addition, students from various schools in Male' and the atolls were briefed by utility companies on how services are planned and delivered. They were also introduced to careers in engineering and given an insight into how engineering works are carried out and operations are managed. As part of the activities, students visited sites operated by STELCO, Fenaka, MWSC and MTCC.
According to the Infratstructure Ministry, the main objective of the activities, which involved a large number of students, was to encourage young people to take an interest in fields related to the development of the Maldives and to promote the development of Maldivians in these areas.
As part of this year's Engineering Day celebrations, an award for engineers is also being presented for the first time. In addition, the work carried out in the engineering sector and the stories of engineers actively contributing to the field have been shared through the media.
A walk was also held at the ThilaMale' Bridge with the participation of the President of the Maldives as part of the Engineering Day celebrations. The President also held extensive discussions with engineers on measures that could be taken to further advance the engineering sector in the Maldives.
The Government has also decided to establish a State of the Art Engineering Lab in the Maldives. The initiative is intended to support research for the country's development and facilitate sustainable work in the engineering sector in the Maldives.