Minister of Education, Dr Ismail Shafeeu has urged students to respect and value their teachers as students throughout the country began the new academic year on Monday.
Speaking during the special assembly at the Aminiyya School to mark the start of the new academic year, Minister Dr Shafeeu hailed the pivotal role played by teachers to educate and develop the next generation of young minds in the country.
He insisted that the future of students lay in the hands of teachers, urging students and parents to respect and value the decisive role played by both educators and administrators in the education system.
"There were no big buildings in the past. Students could study under a tree or inside a tiny shack. So with the change of times, we have adapted and are working to address challenges to provide a fully resourced system,” he explained.
The academic year has commenced nationwide, welcoming approximately 90,000 students back to classrooms after a month-long holiday. Schools across the country greeted pupils warmly, signalling the start of another year dedicated to academic pursuits.
At the core of the academic infrastructure, 11,000 teachers are actively serving in the education sector this year, including 10,000 employed in government-run schools. According to the education ministry, the student-teacher ratio—one educator for every eight students—highlights the government's continued emphasis on delivering quality education.