The President's Special Achievement Awards Committee has announced it has accepted 57 applications for this year’s President’s Award for Special Achievement. The committee also announced that they have initiated the process of evaluating and awarding points to the applicants.
The President’s Award for Special Achievement is awarded to Maldivians whose exceptional skills and performance are a source of national pride, and to those who have made substantial contributions to national progress. Opportunity to submit applications for the President’s Award for Special Achievement ended on September 27, 2020.
The awards for this year will be conferred in four categories. Nominations for the first category should be individuals who have performed exceptionally well in the field of higher education and training. The awards will be conferred to individuals who have completed education certificates equivalent to MQA ranking levels of 7, 8, 9 and 10 with the highest-grade point. One important change, starting from last year, is that the committee will defer to the grading categories defined by the institutions from which the individuals received their certificates while determining qualifications levels.
The second category is for individuals who did exceptionally well or achieved the highest rank in an international competition or exhibition. The third award category concerns individuals have created effective solutions to pressing national issues through their innovation and research.
This year, a new category has also been included, in line with the statement made by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during last year's Republic Day address. President Solih had stressed on the importance of recognising members of our youth who have had a profound impact on national development through their ingenuity, productivity and perseverance. He shared his thoughts on offering a President's Award for Special Achievement for such youth in 2020.
Accordingly, the President's Special Achievement Awards Committee has this year included a special category for creative and innovative efforts recognised to have had a positive effect on national progress. This award is exclusive to young people aged between 18 to 35.
The Awards for this year will be presented during the National Day celebrations.