The recitations for the 38th National Quran Recitation Competition have concluded.
This year’s National Quran Competition is the first to be held following major changes to the structure of the competition. Unlike previous years, audition rounds were conducted, with auditions held in 21 islands in addition to Male'.
A total of 3,050 children participated in the audition round, of whom 2,742 recited during the auditions. A total of 379 students advanced to the semi-finals, while 140 students progressed to the final round. However, the National Centre for the Holy Quran said that 138 students ultimately recited in the final.
The final-round recitations were held at Salman Mosque on Wednesday and Thursday.
Following the changes introduced to the rules of the National Quran Recitation Competition, two judging panels overseeing the semi-final and final rounds each included one judge with international-level expertise.
Among the finalists, first, second and third places will be selected in both the categories for recitation with and without looking at the Quran, based on age groups. Overall winners will also be selected for the recitation-without-looking and memorisation categories. The first-place winners in the overall recitation-without-looking and memorisation categories will receive a special prize from the President.
The National Quran Recitation Competition is being developed into the most prestigious competition in the Maldives, with the largest prizes, while President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has decided that the competition will be funded directly from the state budget. The prize amounts have also been increased, with first-place winners in all three categories receiving a special scholarship from the President.