Local

The President announces pay rise for teachers from May

Published

2 years ago

03/02/2022

MNN

Education sector projects seek to switch to single-session schooling, the President said.

Infrastructure projects are underway in 55 schools across the country.
4,082 teachers provided training and higher education opportunities in 2021.
Overseas postgraduate programmes secured for 20 principals in 2021.
Over 12,000 enrolled in the administration-funded first-degree programme.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday gave welcoming news to education sector staff, revealing his decision to raise their pay from May 2022. In his annual address to Parliament, President Solih described teachers as those charged with the most challenging part of nation-building.

The decision would see a 56 per cent rise in the salaries of graduate-level secondary school teachers from MVR 12,628 to MVR 19,740, excluding overtime. Human resource development in the education sector is at the forefront of the administration’s policies. Last year, training and development opportunities were provided to 4,082 teachers, and overseas postgraduate programmes were secured for 20 principals.

The administration’s single-session school policy made significant progress last year, with 23 new schools switching to single-session schooling. Infrastructure development projects in the education sector saw 117 classrooms and six multi-purpose halls built in 22 schools. Another 473 classrooms and 27 multi-purpose halls are being built in 55 schools across the country, costing MVR 948 million.

The President said that students from smaller islands should have the same rights and opportunities as others. He was referring to the introduction of satellite education, for the first time in the Maldives, which connects students on two islands—Fehendhoo Island of Baa Atoll and Thinadhoo Island of Vaavu Atoll—to the Satellite Hub Centre at Huravee School in Malé City. President Solih went on to say that today, parents’ worries and sacrifices to secure a decent education for their children are a thing of the past.

The administration launched its “Free Education Scheme for Degree Students” in February 2019, which has since enrolled 12,730 students. While 2,127 students have now completed their undergraduate studies through the programme, President Solih envisioned over 5,000 students doing so by the end of 2023. He added that any student with the commitment to pursuing their first degree would have the opportunity under his administration.

President Solih went on to note that, while another 1,500 students were granted student loans to pursue higher education overseas, the administration prioritised those that did not have the financial capabilities and those with special needs, every step of the way. The administration will be extending student loans to another 700 individuals next week.

The administration is also tireless in its efforts to train professionals in various fields, said the President, with loans granted to 124 students in an effort to increase the number of local doctors. This February, programmes would be launched to train 1,150 individuals in the information and communications technology and accounting sectors.

Across the country, projects are underway to significantly expand vocational training opportunities; a junior college is being developed in Dhihdhoo Island of Haa Alifu Atoll, while a TVET Centre development project is in progress in Alifushi Island of Raa Atoll. Projects to develop a junior college in Ken’dhikulhudhoo Island of Noonu Atoll and a polytechnic in Thulusdhoo Island of Kaafu Atoll were recently announced.

Local

Nasheed to form new party

Published

12 months ago

17/05/2023

The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s leader Mohamed Nasheed has decided to form a new political party.

Nasheed initiated a separate political movement within MDP, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’, following his loss in MDP’s presidential primary held back in January. After major conflicts with the government and its policies – all lawmakers from the faction tendered their resignation from MDP on Wednesday.

The move came after Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim was expelled from the party on Tuesday and banned from rejoining for at least one year over involvement in opposition political activities surrounding the Chagos archipelago dispute.

The 12 members who resigned from MDP on Wednesday are;

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla
Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)
North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy (Inthi)
West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb
North Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef
Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef
Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)
Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan
Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan (Gita)
North Mahchangoalhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)
Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir
All 12 members are close acquittances of Nasheed. MP Hassan Latheef, during a meeting at Bodufenvalhuge on Wednesday, announced Nasheed’s decision to form a new political party. The meeting was attended by supporters of Nasheed.

Should Nasheed form a new political party, that party would be the largest opposition party in terms of members in the parliament, thereby, the minority party. The minority party at present, opposition PPM-PNC coalition has only eight members in the parliament.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Local

MPs loyal to Nasheed leave MDP

Published

12 months ago

17/05/2023

Multiple members of the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) loyal to the party’s leader Mohamed Nasheed have left the party.

The members who resigned from MDP include 12 MPs. They include Deputy Speaker Eva Abdulla, MP Mohamed Waheed, MP Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi), MP Hassan Latheef, MP Ilyas Labeeb, MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, MP Hassan Afeef, MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), MP Hussain Firushan, MP Hassan Shiyan, MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu), and MP Ahmed Zahir.

They submitted their resignation letters Wednesday.

The move comes after MDP’s parliamentary group had requested action against Inthi, Hassan Latheef, Ilyas, Yasir, and Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim earlier this week, for forming an alliance with the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Jumhoory Party (JP) and Maldives National Party (MNP), after accusing the government of failure to protect the interests of the Maldivian people in the case lodged with the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) over the disputed maritime territory between Maldives and Mauritius.

The party’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Azim from the party on Tuesday.

They are all members of Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction.

However, Nasheed has yet to resign from the party.

Despite the resignation of the 12 MPs, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih continues to hold full control of the Parliament with 56 MPs.

Source(s): sun.mv

Local

The Cambodian Prime Minister arrives in the Maldives on an official visit

Published

1 year ago

15/01/2023

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, arrived Sunday morning on an official visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. It is Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s first visit to the Maldives.

The Cambodian Prime Minister and accompanying delegation were received at Velana International Airport (VIA) by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid (ODRI). The government will hold a ceremony on Monday to officially welcome the Cambodian Prime Minister to the Maldives.

During the visit, President Solih would meet with Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen and hold official talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation, followed by the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. President Solih and the Cambodian Prime Minister would also deliver a joint statement on the outcomes of their discussions.

The Maldives and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1995.

Source(s): President Office.