Education Minister Raises Concern Over Declining Results of Former Top-Performing Students
‘Aruthavaringe Inaam 2024’ awards ceremony | Photo: Ministry of Education
The Minister of Education, Dr Ismail Shafeeu, has expressed concern over a marked decline in academic performance among students who were previously ranked among the top ten in the Maldives’ O-Level examinations.
Addressing the ‘Aruthavaringe Inaam 2024’ awards ceremony held at the Social Centre on Saturday, the Minister highlighted that 64 percent of students who had secured top ten rankings in the 2021 and 2022 O-Level examinations did not appear in the top ten of the latest A-Level results.
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The ceremony was organised to honour the highest-performing students in the 2022 and 2023 A-Level and O-Level examinations.
During his remarks, the Minister presented data showing limited progress in A-Level performance over the past decade. According to the figures, less than half of students achieved five or more C grades in A-Level examinations between 2013 and 2024, despite substantial investment in the education sector.
Dr Shafeeu noted that while MVR 4 billion is allocated to education annually, and with the support of both educators and parents, the outcomes remain below expectations. Among the 844 students who were previously recognised in the O-Level top ten, only 36 percent maintained a similar standing at A-Level. He pointed out that out of 7,000 A-Level candidates, a significant portion of those previously celebrated for academic excellence experienced a decline in performance.
The Minister suggested that the issue may be linked to teaching methods or the overall quality of support provided in schools. He also attributed the decline in A-Level results to gaps in foundational learning, particularly in core subjects such as mathematics, English, and Dhivehi, at the primary education level.
In response, the Ministry of Education has made teacher training and school leadership development key priorities. Programmes for all school principals have been carried out in collaboration with international partners, and efforts to revise the national curriculum are currently underway.
