The new academic year kicked off on Sunday with over 83,000 students.
Ministry of Education said while 212 government schools are operational this year, 73,067 students are enrolled in these schools. This number reaches over 83,000 students, including private schools. 150 schools from the 212 schools are single-session schools, said the ministry.
This year, 150 schools will prepare students for O' level examination. While A' level syllabus will be taught in 5- schools, preschool education will be provided from 170 schools, said the ministry. Hundreds of students are enrolled at private preschools as well, they added.
A new school, 'Izzuddin School' was opened this year in capital Male' city to address the space issues faced by schools in the congested city. Over 224 students are enrolled at the new school.
The single-session school opened at the old Male' English School (MES) building will cater to students from Grades 1 - 6. A higher grade will be added with each new academic year from 2021.
A Cabinet minister including those from the President's Office took part in school reconvening ceremonies of one school in each atoll to encourage students. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih attended the inauguration of Izzuddin School.
While the new academic year has kicked off, the Ministry of Education has decided to divide the end-of-year holiday into two parts starting this year. Therefore, the first part of the holiday will be from 31st May to 11th June, and the second part will be from 6th December to 7th January.
With this change, 11 days of holiday will be given in the first half of the year while 30 days will be given in the second half of the year. Some believe that the change is a strategy to shorten the number of days given as holiday. In addition to the two-part end of year holiday, a week or more will be given as a holiday for every semester / term break. Therefore, it is not wise to give just 11 days for the first part of the end-of-year holiday, some say.
