Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said students should be given sufficient time to participate in sports, recreation and activities they enjoy, stressing that balanced development is essential for effective learning.
Speaking at the Top Achievers 2026 awards ceremony on Saturday, the Minister said students across all grades should take greater responsibility for their own learning. While congratulating this year’s high achievers, he encouraged students to consider whether they had reached their full academic potential and said stronger collaboration could lead to even better results.
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Dr Shafeeu said students who take ownership of their learning develop stronger learning attitudes and more effective cognitive strategies, enabling them to better understand lessons. He added that research consistently shows self-regulated learners, who take initiative, reflect on their progress and apply metacognitive skills, are more likely to continue learning successfully, and said these practices should be encouraged throughout the education system.
The Minister also expressed concern over the country’s growing tuition culture, noting that many students spend around six hours in school followed by another four to six hours attending tuition at home. He said additional academic support may be necessary, but it should not reduce students’ engagement with classroom learning.
Dr Shafeeu said students should be encouraged to pay closer attention during lessons rather than relying heavily on tuition, warning that excessive tutoring could have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.
He added that students should have adequate time for sports, recreation and other interests while also developing effective time management skills. According to the Minister, studies indicate that students who learn independently through self-directed, inquiry-based and personalised learning approaches are able to retain up to 75 per cent of the information they learn.
