Academic New Year begins in the Maldives

Academic New Year for 2012 begins today in the Maldives. The slogan for this year is “Progress of the Student, My Participation”. The Ministry of Education has stated that its hope for the Academic New Year would be to put in place a meaningful contribution in the education of school goers by the whole society, including those who work in the education sector and parents.

In her special address on the occasion of beginning the Academic New Year, Shifa Mohamed, Minister of Education, said that the budget for education sector for this year was at an all-time highest, and that this would enable the dreams for the year to be fulfilled.

The Ministry of Education has, meanwhile, rearranged school working hours in some 8 schools throughout the country in accord with the Ministry’s new policy of one-session day. Further 23 schools would adopt the policy by the middle of the year. The Ministry has said that the purpose of this new policy is to make schools as student-friendly as possible.

“We shall implement the indicators necessary for establishing “Perfect Schools” which are child-friendly, and also to increase awareness about the health and safety of the children”, said the Minister.

The Minister also said that one of the most important goals for the year would be to lift up pass percentage. She said that the Ministry had a target of increasing pass percentage at Ordinary Level Exams from 35 per cent to 44 per cent.