Ministry of Higher Education has instructed all colleges, universities and other higher education institutes in the Maldives to re-register at the ministry.
The higher education ministry said re-registration has commenced in accordance with the newly published regulation on registration of higher education and training centres, under the Maldives Higher Education Act. The ministry said the regulation requires all higher education institutes to re-register at the ministry within the next 6 months. The ministry noted no fees will be charged for re-registration, although institutes applying to register for the first time will have to pay the allocated fee.
On May 16, 2021, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the Maldives Higher Education Act, which sets down the legal framework of standards and policies to provide and develop higher education and training in the Maldives. The Higher Education Act stipulates the establishment of the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA), an independent entity mandated with assuring the quality of post-secondary qualifications awarded in the testimony of educational attainments. The law would transfer all property, assets, resources, budget, responsibilities, legal obligations, and staff employed by the previously created MQA to the new body. The higher education minister would be liable for all matters related to the new MQA.
The law further outlines processes to register and operate higher education institutions and stipulate their standards. It ensures establishing a higher education system with equal opportunities for all Maldivians and promotes longevity of the educational services.