Education in the Maldives
Encyclopedia
Traditionally children aged three and up in the Maldives were educated in Islamic "Makthab" classes, generally using a single large room or the shelter of tree. The children learn simple arithmetic, Dhivehi
and some Arabic
, and practise reciting the Qur'an
. These private schools still exist, but western-style schooling is becoming more pervasive.
The first western-style school in the Maldives is the Majeediyya School
, a secondary established in 1927. The school was originally co-educational, but it was felt necessary to create a second school for girls (Aminiyya School
) in 1944.
Until 1978 formal education was concentrated in the capital, Malé
, but after taking power in 1978, President Gayoom
determined that every atoll
should have a school. The first was opened in South Miladhunmadulu Atoll in March, 1979.
As of 2002, the President's Office claimed that universal primary education has almost been achieved and the literacy rate had improved from 70 percent in 1978 to 98.82 percent. In 2005, there were 106,220 students in schools, or 40% of the total population.
in the Maldives are:
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
and some Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, and practise reciting the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
. These private schools still exist, but western-style schooling is becoming more pervasive.
The first western-style school in the Maldives is the Majeediyya School
Majeediyya School
Majeediyya School is the first Maldivian government school, located in Malé, Maldives. It is a single gender school that teaches male students to the secondary level of education. English medium is followed in teaching with the exception of Dhivehi and Islam...
, a secondary established in 1927. The school was originally co-educational, but it was felt necessary to create a second school for girls (Aminiyya School
Aminiyya School
Aminiyya School is a girls' secondary school in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. It is the first girls' secondary school in the country and remained the only all-girls' school until 14 June 2009....
) in 1944.
Until 1978 formal education was concentrated in the capital, Malé
Malé
Malé , is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll . It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where...
, but after taking power in 1978, President Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was President of the Maldives from 1978 to 2008. After serving as Minister of Transport, he was nominated as President by the Majlis of the Maldives and succeeded Ibrahim Nasir on November 11, 1978. He eventually became the longest-ruling head of government in Asia...
determined that every atoll
Atolls of the Maldives
The Maldives are formed by a number of natural atolls plus atolls in the form of a few islands and isolated reefs today which form a pattern stretching from 7 degrees 10' North to 0 degrees 45' South....
should have a school. The first was opened in South Miladhunmadulu Atoll in March, 1979.
As of 2002, the President's Office claimed that universal primary education has almost been achieved and the literacy rate had improved from 70 percent in 1978 to 98.82 percent. In 2005, there were 106,220 students in schools, or 40% of the total population.
Higher education
A National University Act was passed in January 2011 to establish the first university in the Maldives. Institutions offering higher educationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in the Maldives are:
- Maldives College of Higher EducationMaldives College of Higher EducationThe Maldives National University is the first university to be opened in the Maldives. Inaugurated on February 15, 2011, the university was previously known as the Maldives College of Higher Education which was established on January 1, 1999, as part of a restructuring and rationalization of all...
http://www.mche.edu.mv/, it offers 95% of the post-secondary education in the Maldives - Cyryx College http://www.cyryxcollege.edu.mv/
- Mandhu CollegeMandhu CollegeMandhu College is a private college providing Higher Education in the Maldives. Mandhu College collaborates with universities in UK and Australia to provide accredited tertiary courses locally....
http://www.mandhu.com/, which provides tertiary education to lower and higher secondary school leavers. - Villa College http://villacollege.edu.mv/v1/, which has offered degree courses in computing and IT since 2007.
- The University of Sri JayewardenepuraUniversity of Sri JayewardenepuraThe University of Sri Jayewardenepura is one of the Universities in Sri Lanka. It is located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka...
in Sri Lanka plans to open a university in the Maldives, initially a management faculty.
See also
- List of schools in the Maldives
- List of universities and colleges in Asia
External links
- Developing Education Master Plan (2006 - 2015) (dhivehiobserver.com)
- http://www.hellomaldives.com/maldives/education/contents.htm hellomaldives.com
- http://www.themaldives.com/Maldives/Maldives_education.htm theMaldives.com