The academic year for 2016 has begun with dramatic changes to the sector.
The biggest change is the change in administration of pre-schools to the care of the state. The change is applicable to all schools in the country, except for the ones in Addu City and in Male’ City.
Education Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said that with the start of the New Year, there are over 9000 students in LKG and UKG.
She noted the preparation work carried out for the preschools, stating that the Ministry had spent MVR 25 million on the project.
An additional grade 11 has also been introduced, with a change to the curriculum. The O-Level graduates of last year, will begin studies in March this year, in addition to the current batch of students in Grade 11.
Additionally, once the Grade 12 batch finishes their exams, the students of Grade 11 will be given admittance into Grade 12. Therefore, when the year ends, Grades 11 and 12 will progress at the same time frame as the other Grades. This is a major change to the system that had been in place all these years.
Dr. Shiham said that all students who had requested to shift to schools in Male’ City have been given the opportunity. She noted that Arabic will be taught in 41 schools and will follow the same suit followed in Arabiyya School.
Over 1/3 of the student population study in schools in Male’ City.
New academic year begins with drastic changes
