‘Maldives will soon have a teaching force capable of using AI in classrooms’

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu stated on Monday night that the Maldives will soon have a competent teaching workforce equipped to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into classroom learning.

Responding to a question during tonight's Ahaa forum, the Minister noted that AI has undergone significant developments over the past seven years, with several countries now incorporating and experimenting with the technology in their education systems.

He emphasised that, as the Maldives follows international curricula for both secondary and higher secondary education, the country is well-positioned to adapt to emerging global developments in formal and school-based education, including the integration of AI.

The Minister also highlighted that teachers and parents are among the most important stakeholders in implementing educational reforms. In this regard, he noted that AI training programmes were conducted during the final month of Ramadan.

"We are currently conducting AI awareness and training initiatives through various programs at the National Institute of Education (NIE). Furthermore, through the NIE's 'Edhuru' platform and the Ministry's ongoing professional development programs, we are working to familiarize teachers with AI, including specialized support for students with special educational needs," the Minister explained.

"This means that in the coming days, the Maldives will, God willing, have a teacher force with the necessary competencies to teach using Artificial Intelligence," he added.

The Minister said that integrating AI into education was now more achievable than previously anticipated through targeted training initiatives. He also observed that many teachers already possess familiarity with these technologies, indicating that the transition would not present a significant challenge for the Maldives.