The Social and Family Development has partnered with higher education institute Maldives Polytechnic to offer vocational training courses for persons with disabilities, including in the field of photography.
According to an announcement by the ministry on Monday morning, registration is open until Sunday, August 31.
The Maldives Polytechnic will be conducting courses in six fields. They are:
Handicraft
Art skills
Cake decoration
Fashion design
Jewelry making
Photography
All individuals registered with the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA)’s National Disability Registry are eligible to enroll in the courses.
The ministry can be contacted via the hotline 1433 or via Viber at 7206558 for additional details regarding the courses.
އިޖުތިމާޢީ އަދި ޢާއިލީ ތަރައްޤީއާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާއާއި މޯލްޑިވްސް ޕޮލިޓެކްނިކް ގުޅިގެން، ނުކުޅެދުންތެރިކަން ހުންނަ ފަރާތްތަކަށް ޚާއްޞަކޮށްގެން ފަރުމާކުރެވިފައިވާ ތަމްރީނު ޕްރޮގްރާމްތަކެއްގައި ބައިވެރިވުމުގެ ފުރުޞަތު ހުޅުވާލައިފި. މި ޕްރޮގްރާމްތަކުގައި ބައިވެރިވުމަށް… pic.twitter.com/uirrMMQ6Ad
— Ministry of Social and Family Development (@MSFDmv) August 25, 2025
According to information released by the ministry, 7 percent of the Maldivian population has some form of disability.
And according to NSPA, there are 14,308 individuals registered with the National Disability Registry as of May, including 4,000 with physical disabilities, 3,194 with multiple disabilities and 1,892 with intellectual disabilities.
In a statement back in July, the ministry highlighted the need to provide special protection and care for persons with disabilities, equipping them with the resources needed to lead independent and dignified lives.
State institutions have been repeatedly hit with criticism over alleged failure to provide special care, financial aid and medical care that persons with disabilities are entitled to under Maldivian laws.
In April, the Parliament received a petition signed by 47 families over the issue.