President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that his administration’s education policy does not just seek to provide primary education, but also to “build a generation of students who are educated and healthy, and youth who are responsible, creative and productive.”

The president said this in his message to mark World Teachers’ Day, on Saturday.

Noting that the success of the education system should not be measured “solely by examination results,” Solih said that real success “is building generations of students who are compassionate, selfless, ready to face challenges and prioritises serving the nation.”

He added that his administration’s education policy was not limited to just providing primary education, but that it also seeks to build "a generation of students who are educated and healthy, and youth who are responsible, creative and productive."

The president further called on educational institutions to strive towards these goals.

In his statement, Solih also detailed the reasons behind the decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to mark World Teachers’ Day -to appreciate, assess and improve the educators of the world- and stressed the importance of “upholding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions.”

Speaking on this year’s theme, 'Young Teachers: The future of the Profession’, the president stated that “it shows the role and responsibilities of youth in the future of the profession, and explores the need for teachers mindful of modern technological advancements in teaching.”

Further highlighting that Maldives’ teacher population employs many youths and that “a large number of young people join the profession every year,” Solih said that the country’s education system “looks bright.”

The president also expressed his gratitude to the contributions of teachers in nation-building and extended his good wishes to those in the profession of training the future generations of teachers.