The government is to increase salaries for those employed in the education sector from May 2022 onwards.
This was announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his presidential address, delivered during the inaugural sitting of the People’s Majlis on Thursday morning.
Highlighting that the steps of higher education are “infinite”, the president revealed that more than 1,500 students that wished to attain higher education overseas received student loans during 2021 and those that did not have the financial means as well as those with special needs, were prioritized by the administration.
Under this scheme, the president announced that 720 more opportunities will be opened up on February 7.
Further, the government is also conducting efforts to train local professionals in several needs-based fields, with which being said, the president noted that 124 students have been granted loans in a bid to increase the number of local doctors.
The government is also preparing to launch the training of 1,150 ICT and accounting professionals under the program during the ongoing month.
Shedding light on efforts to establish TVET centres, junior colleges and polytechnic institutes across different regions of the Maldives, President Solih revealed that efforts will be launched to establish a junior college in Dhidhdhoo island of Haa Alif atoll, as well as a TVET center in Alifushi island of Raa atoll, this ongoing year.
Other projects announced by the government include the construction for both the junior college in Kendhikulhudhoo island of Noonu atoll and a polytechnic building in Thulusdhoo island of Kaafu atoll.
During his fourth presidential address, the president asserted that trained professionals are a country’s greatest assets.
Stressing that being a student from a small island is not a reason to be excluded from equal opportunities, the president stated that satellite school services have begun for students in Fehendhoo island of Baa atoll and Thinadhoo island of Vaavu atoll this ongoing year.
This has ended the challenging journey that B. Fehendhoo’s resident Aminath Asifa endured for the past 12 years – her children having to travel in a small boat to attend school in the neighbouring island of B. Goidhoo.”Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Maldives.
During 2021, the government of Maldives paved opportunities for skills development and training required for 4,082 teachers and Masters-level training for 20 principals overseas. The president announced the government’s commitment to continue these programmes.
In a bid to switch to single-sessions in schools, the government is currently building the infrastructure required to do the needful, said the president, who added that 23 schools have successfully switched to single sessions for the first time, during this term.
The government established 117 classrooms and six multipurpose halls in 22 schools and work is currently underway to establish 473 classrooms and 27 multipurpose halls in 55 schools, announced the president.
This project is valued at MVR 941 million, according to President Solih.
Further, he also highlighted that the government remains committed to ensure teachers receive appropriate salaries, as they hold the “biggest” responsibility in nation-building.
With this being said, he announced the government’s decision to increase salaries for those employed in the education sector, with which secondary teachers at a graduate level will have an increase in salary from MVR 12,628 to MVR 19,740, excluding overtime allowances.
President Solih stated that this is a 56 percent increase.
