The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has announced that the Maldives will soon sign an agreement with the Moroccan government to enable Maldivian imams to study in Morocco.
According to Minister Shaheem, the Moroccan government has officially informed the Maldivian government that Maldivian imams shall have the opportunity to study Arabic in Morocco. The Minister said the arrangement follows a letter sent by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to the King of Morocco, as part of his efforts to enhance educational opportunities for the people of the Maldives.
According to the Islamic Minister, Morocco’s specialised institute for teaching the Arabic language to Imams operates under the direct supervision of the King of Morocco. The Minister said the opportunity to study at the institute includes full accommodating and pocket money for students.
The Minister confirmed that the formal agreement has now been received to facilitate the study programme, and said the agreement will be signed with the Moroccan government soon.
This opportunity for imams aims to broaden the experience and religious knowledge of Maldivian imams through exposure to international institutes. Last year, similar opportunities for training imams were provided in various countries.
The training of imams and Khatheebs is a key priority of the current government. While more than 800 imams were trained last year alone, the Maldives also held its first seminar for imams last year. The seminar was held to discuss expanding the role of imams, learning opportunities and challenges faced by imams.