Youths without education, jobs to be mandated security forces training

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced his decision to introduce a National Service Program which will mandate youths without education and employment opportunities to complete training for national security forces. 

He made the announcement while delivering remarks at the official reception held on Sunday night at Dharubaaruge to mark the Victory Day.

In this regard, President Muizzu stressed the lack of efforts to recruit an adequate number of soldiers required for the undertakings of the Maldives’ military. He noted that there are many students, who, for various reasons, are unable to go on to higher education after completing their O' Levels or A’ Levels and or find difficulties in finding employment.

As a result, the President said such youths are incentivized towards negative habits such as drugs – subsequently, subjecting the government, the society and their families to great burdens.

However, the President noted that if such youths were to receive military training and proper education – it will be a boost to not only the military, but also the nation.

Speaking further, President Muizzu detailed 1,000 soldiers need to be trained each year to increase the role of the military over the next four years while 1,000 police officers need to be trained to increase the role of the police over the next four years.

To achieve this, the President said a National Service Program will be commenced in the Maldives starting next year which will be held every year.  

The law presently requires an individual to be 18 years old to enroll in the military and the police.

With the National Service Program, President Muizzu said each youth who completes school that is without the opportunity for further education or employment will be mandated to enroll in the program. He added the program will be supported by legislation. 

“MVR 400 million will be allocated for this [program[ under the new initiative policy from the budget proposed to 2025. An additional MVR 400 million will be injected each year,” he said.

The President cited the benefit of the program as building youths that are beneficial to the youth instead of being left out.