Currently working on finalizing models for junior colleges: minister

The Ministry of Higher Education is currently finalizing the models for the junior colleges.

Higher Education Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan revealed this after being presented to parliament for questioning on Wednesday. Thimarafushi constituency MP Abdulla Riyaz had proposed to summon him for questioning, regarding the junior colleges to be established in the country.

Establishing junior colleges in each atoll is an electoral pledge of the incumbent president. Responding to this, the minister said that the design work for the colleges began in June this year.

While junior colleges are to be opened in each atoll, Dr. Hassan said that the institutions' courses will focus on the work which the regions are known for. As such, he noted that if the region is known for its tourism “the junior college will have special courses on hospitality.”

The higher education minister said that the colleges will provide foreign language courses as well, highlighting that the purpose of the junior colleges is to give the youth the necessary training to survive in the work environment.

The ministry is also finalizing the locations to build the colleges, after which they are to commence the work.

Also at Wednesdays’ sitting, the higher education minister noted that out of the 5128 students that completed their O’Levels in 2018, from 57 schools, only 35% were able to move to higher studies.

Noting that the majority do not get this opportunity, Dr. Hassan stressed that unemployment rate has increased to 30 percent. Hence, the minister said that establishing junior colleges is “important.”