Former Chancellor of the Maldives National University (MNU) has praised the government's decision to have students currently in Grade 8 sit their O'level exams in October/November next year.
The government has decided to revert the beginning of the academic year to January from 2026. In bringing about this change, Grade 8 students will begin studying the O'level syllabus next week and prepare to sit their exams in October/November 2025.
Dr Hassan Hameed, with 40 years experience in the education field, told Mihaaru News that O'levels are in effect a two year course. He said that there are no issues in students being given a two year, or even a somewhat shorter, period to prepare for the exam.
"However, the efforts must be a bit more intensive. I'm saying this because in other countries there are some students who do 11 or even 15 O'level subjects. If they can do this many subjects with two years' study, we are only doing 8 subjects here in Maldives. So it will take an even less duration to prepare for just 8 subjects," Dr Hameed explained.
He said that a lot of effort will be needed to ensure students are taught thoroughly within the available period, and to ensure that it poses no adverse effects on them.
"In the long term, this move will prove beneficial to students, parents, as well as the country."
"Children's minds do not work like a phone's memory, getting full easily. So the more they study, the more they will learn. I support this change. In my view, this is a very positive step. I don't think this move will cause too much negative impact on the students. I can prove that this will not cause too much negative impact on students," Dr Hameed said.
"What is taught in Grade 8 (Key Stage 4) is not new content. It's the same thing students have been studying since grades 1 and 2. However there are some subjects that won't fit in to this category. For example, in Dhivehi as a subject, students in grade 8 are learning the same things they were studying back in grade 4, just more in depth."
Dr Hameed went on to note that even at present, some students in Grade 9 or lower participate in O'level exams, stating that they are able to achieve good results.
"Passing O'levels is a skill. There will be less teaching, and more just practising with past papers."
With the changes to the academic calendar, two batches of students will be sitting for their O'level exams in 2025. While Grade 8 students are scheduled to sit their exams in October/November, Grade 9 students will be doing them in May/June.
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