The government places high value on investing in the education sector and attributed the successes in achieving the government's pledge of offering free education for all children between 4 to 18 years of age, Minister of Education and Chair of the Maldives National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Aishath Shiham states.
The Maldivian Education Minister made the remarks on her statement for the General Policy Debate as the Head of the Delegation of Maldives at the 39th UNESCO General Conference. Maldives have shown progress and remarkable improvements in the country's education indicators, Minister of Education and Chair of the Maldives National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Aishath Shiham reiterated while delivering her statement at the 39th UNESCO General Conference.
The Education Minister noted, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government has embarked on a national development agenda that is based on the empowerment of people, empowerment of youth, empowerment of children, and the empowerment of women. Two years of early childhood education has been made compulsory and is available for free across the country, Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said while highlighting the successes and progress made by the government.
It is one of the main reasons for the huge achievements made by the education sector within the past few years, Minister said. Maldives has become the first country in the region to provide 12 years of compulsory education and 14 years of free schooling for all students, Minister further added. Sustaining and improving the quality of education requires new innovative strategies, Education Minister noted while adding that Maldives is proud of the achievements.
Continuing on, the Minister assured the commitment of Maldives to work with international partners to take bold and urgent steps needed to build on the six out of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were achieved, and stand firmly resolved to fulfil the rest. Action is taken to achieve environmental sustainability, although the country remains geographically vulnerable to climate change and environmental issues, she cited.
The Maldivian Education Minister concluded her statement by reaffirming the commitment of Maldives to the high ideals that UNESCO stands to create a better world for all.