The Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, called on the Maldives’ newly licensed National Assessors to uphold integrity and professionalism in their work. His remarks underscored the critical role assessors play in safeguarding the quality and credibility of higher education across the country.
The event was convened to distribute the newly introduced National Assessors Cards, official credentials issued to individuals formally licensed by the state. Developed by the Maldives National Skills Development Authority (MNSDA), the card affirms the assessor’s status within the national registry and provides a means for assessed parties to verify credentials.
“A total of 20 new assessors have been trained this year,” the minister stated. “Further training sessions have been planned for subsequent implementation. Those who have received this card must be assessors who are trustworthy, maintain professionalism, and conduct assessments by prioritising integrity and equality.”
Defined under the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act, national assessors are responsible for determining whether students have attained the education and skills standards outlined in the National Competency Standard. Their evaluations form a cornerstone of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes delivered across the country.
The MNSDA, which maintains the registry of licensed assessors, confirmed that 20 new assessors were trained and granted licences this year. The authority noted that the card’s design supports transparency by allowing assessed individuals to access information about their assessor.
At present, 234 licensed assessors are active across various disciplines in the country. The formal issuance of the card represents a step towards greater accountability and standardisation in student assessment.
Minister Haidar reiterated that strengthening the calibre of assessors is essential to improving the overall quality of higher education. In addition to ethical conduct, he underlined the importance of continuous professional development, stating that assessors must participate in refresher courses to remain current with industry developments and evolving standards. “This continued engagement is necessary to ensure assessors remain familiar with changes in industries and to have the latest information on matters,” he said.