President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has met with newly appointed members of the National Awards Committee and the Special Achievement Awards Committee.

While the meeting took place on Monday afternoon at the President’s Office, President Solih had urged members to continue functioning the committees in the same impartial and just manner in which it has previously been functioning.

President Solih further urged members to ensure and prioritize in choosing recipients who truly deserve the awards in their respective fields when conferring awards.

Emphasizing on the importance of conferring Special Achievement Awards, President Solih requested to thoroughly review guidelines and criteria set for eligibility of the awards.

He especially highlighted that students who score highest in Universities must be eligible for the award although the student did not acquire above 85% marks, as required in the criteria currently being followed.

The President went on to stress on the importance of making sure this is reviewed in a way that does not dishearten other students and make them question their efforts to achieve their best.

Advising both committees to confer awards in separate functions, President Solih asked to conduct discussions and to put forth a recommendation to the President.

While the National Award is a government title conferred annually to honor and encourage those who “contribute in the development of the nation and the benefit of the society”, National Award of Honor and National Award of Recognition are also given as National Awards.

In addition, the Special Achievement Award is also a government title conferred annually to honor and encourage those who achieve “exceptional academic achievement and bring good name to the country”, at a national level.

New members were appointed to both committees on the 10th of January.