Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said key stage 1 textbooks will undergo major changes from the start of the next academic year.
Speaking at the opening of the International Teachers’ Conference today, Minister Shafeeu said the government is making changes to strengthen the education system in line with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s manifesto.
He said the key stage 1 textbooks for grades 1 to 3 will be significantly revised next year.
Minister Shafeeu did not specify what changes would be made to the textbooks. However, he stressed that changes to the books alone would not transform education and that teachers would play the most important role.
“Even if there is a book, one cannot become a scholar. The book is not what is important. What matters is how we think about shaping the education of our young students. That will make the biggest difference,” Minister Shafeeu said.
The minister also said the proportion of students studying for A-levels was low when the current government took office.
He said the proportion had previously been between 30 percent and 40 percent but has now increased to 50 percent.
Minister Shafeeu said the government aims to increase the proportion to 60 percent by expanding opportunities through Male' Vocational School.
The textbooks currently used in Maldivian schools were introduced in 2016. The planned changes would be the first major revision of the textbooks since then.
