President announces decision to award MNU scholarships to A-Level top ten achievers

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has announced a decision by the government to award scholarships from the Maldives National University (MNU) to all future A-Level top ten achievers.

President Waheed made the announcement at a ceremony held in Dharubaaruge last night to award recognition to top ten local achievers of the last year’s Cambridge GCE O-level IGCSE exams.

Speaking at the ceremony last night, President Waheed called upon A-Level first place achievers to return to Maldives and serve their home country after completing their scholarships, which are awarded by the government each year.

He said that it was an investment made on behalf of the nation and that it portrays the value placed by the state on academically capable individuals.

“The nation makes such a big investment on such talented children because they are a great asset. I call upon the students who study in this scholarship to come back and serve the country. So far, this has been something that saddens us,” the President said.

Noting that the education sector, similar to other sectors in the country, hires a high number of foreign employment, the president encouraged for more locals to seek employment in the education sector.

He said that there is a trend where the students who opt to study teaching in higher studies are those who had achieved the lowest grades in their higher secondary education and that it is an injustice to the future of the education sector that talented and intelligent individuals are reluctant to join the profession.

Stating the importance of locals working in the education profession, the President said that Maldivians alone will can properly convey the messages in Maldivian books and writings and further encouraged young school-leavers to join the education sector.

President Waheed said that the teachers are the artists that shape the children through schooling and that it is important that the teachers be given enough space in the decision making process to properly carry out their duties.

He also acknowledged that administers of the schools should be given the due authority in implementing the proper principles and encouraged the school boards to prioritize dialogue and discussion in their administration of the schools.