Maldives is calling for a big change in our education system: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that calls for a big change in the education system are being heard from every corner of the Maldivian society.

He was speaking at the ceremony held to award the national top achievers in secondary school examinations held at Dharubaaruge last night.

He expressed concern over the lack of discipline among some of the school leavers:

“As more kids leave school without attaining the proper discipline, more youth end up in prison. Assault and other crimes are increasing with every passing day. We are a hundred percent Muslim country; yet crimes such as murder are also on the rise. Thus we have to give serious thought to the result achieved from the education and discipline given to our children. The society indicates that positive changes are necessary in our education system.”

He noted that the standard of education needs to be increased to ensure that school leavers develop affection for religion, respect laws and regulations, and learn how to behave in society. They should be taught to respect people of different cultures, and they should want to obtain the education and training necessary to be productive in life in order to be able to contribute to the nation with honesty and sincerity.

He said that in addition to education, schools have to instil good discipline into children; discipline needs to be intertwined with the school system for kids to develop good attitudes and sound discipline.

“With the change of school hours to one shift in order to facilitate an all-round education system, students should be provided the attention they require in the classroom. Parents’ involvement in strengthening the school system needs to be increased. Principals and teachers should be supported in their efforts to develop their skills, and be provided the necessary up-to-date equipment. Education standards should be defined, and a system should be established to defend and monitor these standards. The national curriculum needs speedy revision to include modern concepts, and classrooms have to be equipped with new technology. A school concept which appeals to today’s kids has to be introduced as soon as possible.”

He stressed that the concept of education should be given more thought, and that the education system should shape our children to be attentive to educational and spiritual development; and allow them to have stable, prosperous lives.

“Children can only be disciplined if parents, teachers and school staff work more closely together than they do today. A genuine and transparent relationship has to be fostered between children and these groups. Teachers, school staff, parents, students and the whole community should work together to achieve this goal.”

The President said that education is the key to a nation’s economic development. It is the means to develop one’s intellect, and the light which saved humanity from ignorance.

“Maldivians understand the importance of education, and have therefore spent great energy and resources on this sector,” he said.

He referred to a few statistics and said that last year, Rf 1.7b was spent from the state budget on for the education of 70,400 students. Personnel involved in providing education last year included 6,500 teachers, 700 leading teachers, 60 principals, and 200 deputy principals.

“Today, we are spending our earnings on foreign nationals as their salaries - even to fulfil our basic requirements. Statistics show that about 27,000 Maldivians are currently unemployed. This is a significant number for a small population such as ours. Maldivians’ reluctance to work results in foreigners taking our jobs. About 90,000 foreign nationals are employed in Maldives currently. Millions of Rufiya is leaving the country as their salaries,” the President said.