After a vacation of more than a month, classes for the new academic year have begun today in all corners of the Maldives. This year’s classes started with an important change brought to the education sector. That is, after the previous government changed the system where the academic year used to start in the middle of the year, it has now been set to begin at the start of the year, in January.

While classes started today in 218 schools across the Maldives, more than seventy-seven thousand students have attended school. Schools have made very colorful preparations to welcome students, and the Ministry of Education has arranged trained teachers and resources, and provided the books and stationery needed by students before classes started. The number of students newly entering Grade 1 this year reaches 4,790, of which 1,748 students have been given places in schools in the Malé area.

Looking at the statistics of students transferring schools, the Ministry of Education reveals that 1,530 students from atoll schools have requested to transfer to Malé schools. Additionally, 836 students have applied to transfer from Malé to Hulhumalé schools. Furthermore, one of the most notable highlights of this academic year is the start of teaching at the new school developed by the government in Hulhumalé Phase 2. More than 1,900 students have started receiving education today at this school, which provides education from Grade 1 to 10.

Although classes started today, there will be changes to the calendar in connection with the upcoming month of Ramadan. Accordingly, after schools close following the first week of Ramadan, classes will resume on March 23rd. The vacation after completing the first semester is scheduled from July 14 to the end of the first day of August.