Education Minister Raises Concerns Over Academic Year Start Change Despite Stakeholder Opposition

Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has expressed reservations about the previous administration’s decision to alter the start of the academic year, despite encountering significant opposition from consulted stakeholders.

Responding to queries in Parliament regarding the adjustment of the academic calendar, Minister Shafeeu disclosed that over 30,000 individuals were consulted in the decision-making process. He emphasised that the government took into account various considerations before arriving at the decision, including the approach adopted by the previous administration. Notably, he underscored that despite 70% of the consulted individuals expressing dissent, the change was implemented, resulting in discontent among students and parents.

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Furthermore, Minister Shafeeu elaborated on the current administration’s decision to shift the start of the academic year to January. This move aims to offset the six-month hiatus in schooling prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He clarified that the adjustment seeks to prevent overlaps between the academic and financial years, addressing an additional concern.

In addition, Minister Shafeeu acknowledged concerns raised regarding the impact of the calendar alteration on students’ health, physical activities, and extracurricular engagements. He recognized deficiencies in the planning of extracurricular activities and emphasized the necessity of implementing measures to mitigate these concerns. Despite the calendar change, Minister Shafeeu assured that measures would be taken to enhance the mental and physical well-being of teachers.

The decision by the previous government to postpone the academic year was reportedly influenced by the peak tourism season in December, facilitating vacation time for resort employees. However, the current government has opted to transition the academic year to commence in January starting from 2026.