Last weekend saw the almost century-old Majeediyya School's senior servants at the National Art Gallery. Pictures of the 25 people who served as the principal of the historical school were arranged to show to the public due to how special their service to the school was. The aim is to recognize the people who were responsible for Majeediyya's success as the school celebrates its 100 year anniversary 200 days from now.

The principals shaped the future of the students who spent their academic lives inside the four walls of the school.

The photo gallery that was featured for the day saw principals from Hussain Salahuddin from 1927 up until current principal Ahmed Mujahid, a total of 25 principals, their pictures and their information. The school, which was a boys-only school until a few years ago, has only ever had one female principal, and that is Aishath Mohamed Solih.

Majeediyya School is the start of Maldives' academic life. It initially opened under the name Madhrasathul Saniyya with a total of 69 students on the initiative of Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen Iskander III on 19th April 1927. The name of the school was changed to Madharasathul Majeediyya in 1947.

Hussain Salahuddin laid the foundation for formal education in Maldives in Majeediyya, which has seen many generations of students. His hard work saw Majeediyya School become the nation's official educational foundation.

As the founder and first principal of the school, Hussain Salahuddin's long-term thinking was the reason learning, gaining knowledge and national service became the school's foundation. His leadership was the start of an educational age.

Hussain Salahuddin was the principal of Majeediyya School from 1927 to 1932.

Majeediyya School's second principal Annabeel Moosa Mohamed Didi built upon the early foundation of Maldives' formal education and advanced it. As an honored member of the educational leadership that was being formed at the time in Maldives, he governed education and the country, and is part of the generation that helped bring new ideologies into national development.

Principal Moosa Mohamed Didi took the reins at Majeediyya School at a time the school was being revived. He became an important participant in maintaining the school as an institution that encourages its Maldivian students to learn. It was an institution that he brought to the forefront while preparing it to be the nation's pride.

Principal Moosa Mohamed Didi was the principal of Majeediyya School from 1932 to 1940.

Ibrahim Rushdhee is a top-tier scholar, and an expert in language and literature. He held an important position when Majeediyya School was starting out. He was also one of the first students at the school.

Sheikh Mohamed Naseer Maniku, who is a notable scholar, became the principal of Majeediyya School in 1941. He was better known as Vice Maniku and served at the highest judicial positions late on. This is proof built on knowledge, character and service.

As the third principal of Majeediyya School, Sheikh Mohamed Naseer Maniku is part of the leading scholarly generation who strengthened the foundation of the newly introduced formal education system to Maldives.

Sheikh Mohamed Naseer Maniku served as the principal of the school for five years, from 1941 to 1946.

President of the first Republic of Maldives Sumuvvul Ameer Mohamed Amin Dhoshimeynaa Kilegefaanu and Majeediyya School had a strong connection.

After the school's name changed from Madhrasathul Salahiyya to Madhrasathul Saniyya, the school's name was changed to Madhrasathul Majeediyya during Mohamed Amin Didi's government.

The name comes from Sultan Abdul Majeed Didi.

Annabeel Ibrahim Fareed Didi is a member of the Shaahee family, a notable family in Maldivian history. He is the younger brother of Maldives' last sovereign, Sultan Mohamed Farudhee Didi. And his father is Sumuvvul Ameeru Abdul Majeed Rannabandeyri Kilegefaanu.

Annabeel Ibrahim Fareed Didi held the highest post in Maldives' Education Ministry, the Minister of Education. He played a significant role in the management of educational matters in Maldives, including Majeediyya School.

Additionally, Majeediyya School is named after his father and is the oldest educational foundation in Maldives.

Annabeel Ibrahim Fareed Didi served as the principal of Majeediyya School from 1953 to 1954.

Ali Ahmed served as the principal of Majeediyya School from 1954 to 1956.

In the time frame, Majeediyya's role as the spine of Maldives' formal education further strengthened. It is an important role he built for future generations.

Sheikh Abdulla Fahmee Didi (or Abdulla Jalaluddin) is one of the most popular religious scholar in the history of Maldives, and an author. Jalaluddin served as the principal of Majeediyya as well.

He became the principal in 1956 and passed away in 1958 while he was the principal.

He was also the founder of the second oldest educational institute in Maldives, Madhrasathul Ifthithaah. He was also the Attorney General of the first Republic of Maldives.

Sheikh Mohamed Jameel Didi is the most esteemed scholar from Southern Maldives, author and poet. He wrote the National Anthem poem in 1948.

Mohamed Jameel Didi studied in Majeediyya School and then went to study at Al-Azhar University, Egypt.

After returning from Egypt, he served Majeediyya School's students in teaching them about religious knowledge and the Maldivian language.

He wrote the Maldivian language guidebook (Al Filaavalhu) and books about religion (Thauleem Dhiyana), used by schools as educational materials in schools across Maldives and Majeediyya.

Mohamed Jameel Didi was the principal of Majeediyya School from 1958 to 1959.

Mr. J.V. Hill served as the 10th principal of Majeediyya School in a time where more importance was placed on education outside the classroom. The Club Scouts was introduced under his leadership in Majeediyya in 1961. This laid the foundation for the life of scouts, which expanded greatly in its later years.

His time as the principal shows a vision of development regarding the school environment. It was a valuable vision of ethics, respect, the spirit of working together and leadership, and not just knowledge in books.

He served as the principal of Majeediyya School from 1960 to 1970.

John Housely was the principal of Majeediyya School from 1971 to 1974 as the 11th principal of the school.

The year he became the principal was the year student prefects were introduced. 

This was a memory of a generation shaped by ethics, responsibility, leadership and customs, which made the school famous.

Ali Akhthar Zaidi was the principal of the school from 1975 to 1979 as the 13th principal of the school.

Abdul Hameed was the principal of the school from 1980 to 1982. He further expanded on the school's long-lasting efforts in shaping Maldivian youth.

Records show that those days were known for foreign individuals coming to Maldives and teaching students from the school about the science of language.

P. L. K. Pathiraja was the principal from 1983 to 1984.

The generation of leaders at the school continued to maintain the historic culture of the school by symbolizing Majeediyya's individuality.

S. G. Samuel was the only person to have served as the principal of Majeediyya School more than once. He was the principal from 1985 to 1989 as the 15th principal and again from 1991 to 1995 as the 17th principal.

The two chapters he spent in the long history of the school shows the trust toward him and the responsibilities he fulfilled.

B. G. Chandrasekara was the principal of the school from 1990 to 1991. 

His time as the principal was an important step toward the progress of learning, ethics and the culture of building up one's character.

Dr. Abdul Muhisin Mohamed was the principal from 1995 to 1998. 

Abdul Muhisin Mohamed served as the owner of the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) and the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry. He was also the Chief Executive Officer.

He is still a notable figure in Maldives' education sector and is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Maldives National University's (MNU) Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology's Department of Engineering.

He also has a Bachelor of Science in physics. He obtained his PhD from the University of Waikato in New Zealand in 1994.

C. B. Rathnayaka was the principal from 1999 to 2000 as the 19th principal of the school. His time as the principal saw the school's character be shaped for generations, and maintained learning, ethics and maintained valuable rules of conduct.

R. M. B. P. Embogama served as the principal from 2000 to 2001.

His most important work was facilitating the school becoming an institution that has set its foundation deep in Maldives' educational history.

He spent his entire life in the service of education and as an important participant in Majeediyya having served generations of students.

John Matthew was the principal from 2003 to 2007.

He served Maldivian education for more than 10 years, and has provided higher education at an international standard, with his time in Majeediyya being notable due to this.

Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed is a notable figure in the education sector and has served extensively, along with being the principal of Majeediyya School from 2016 to 2017.

He also served as the State Minister of the Ministry of Education and as a senior official of the National Institute of Education.

He was the principal of many schools, the Vice Rector of colleges (Avid College, Zikura International College) and was an Assistant Professor as well. Additionally, he was named the best principal in Maldives in 2010.

Aishath Mohamed Solih has a long record of serving Maldives' education industry, and is the sister of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Aishath Mohamed Solih has served the education sector in Maldives for more than 40 years. She was the principal of Majeediyya School and Thaajuddeen School. She retired from the position of principal of Majeediyya School in January 2025.

The current principal of Majeediyya School Ahmed Mujahid was appointed to the position on 18th February 2025 right after Aishath Mohamed Solih retired.

Mujahid has served the education sector for a long time now, and was the Deputy Principal at the Center for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) before his current post.

After becoming the principal of Majeediyya School, he began a new chapter in preparing the new generation for the future.

There are many ongoing activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the school.

In regards to the photo gallery, President of the Majeediyya Muskulhi Dharivarunge Jamiyya (MMDJ / Majeediyya Alumni Association) Ahmed Afaal said the official dates and documents show that they were people who served the school as its principals.

He went on to say that artificial intelligence (AI) and digital enhancment was used to create the principal's pictures.

As Majeediyya School's 100th anniversary approaches, the school is preparing to hold a grand celebration. A special countdown was started in anticipation of the 100th anniversary.