Education Minister: Teachers Central to Preparing Students for a Rapidly Changing World

Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has emphasized the central role of teachers in preparing Maldivian students for a rapidly changing world, stressing that education must go beyond academic knowledge to equip young people with skills needed for the future.

Speaking at the 8th International Teachers Conference hosted by the National Institute of Education, Shafeeu said technological advancements, artificial intelligence, climate change and evolving labour markets are transforming the environment in which today’s children will live and work.

He questioned whether current education systems are preparing students for the world they live in today or the world they will inherit tomorrow.

The minister said young people will need more than academic knowledge, highlighting critical thinking, problem-solving, digital competence, creativity, collaboration, resilience and adaptability as essential skills for the future.

Shafeeu stressed that teachers remain at the heart of this preparation despite the growing role of technology in education.

“Technology may transform the tools that we use in the classroom. Policies may establish directions, and curriculum may define what students should learn, but it is the teacher who brings learning to life,” he said.

He noted that teachers play an important role in identifying students who are struggling, recognizing their potential and giving them the confidence to overcome setbacks.

According to Shafeeu, teachers must therefore take on roles beyond simply transmitting knowledge, serving as motivators, mentors, facilitators and lifelong learners.

He described the International Teachers Conference as an important platform for connecting educational policy, research and classroom practice.

The two-day conference provides an opportunity for educators to exchange ideas, learn from one another and develop practical solutions that can create meaningful improvements in classrooms, he said.

Shafeeu also stressed that academic achievement should not be viewed as the only measure of success, noting that young people have different talents, interests and aspirations.

He said the government, under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for every young person to develop their potential.

Highlighting the government’s expansion of higher secondary education, Shafeeu said unprecedented measures have been taken to expand access to higher secondary education across the Maldives, creating opportunities for more young people to pursue further education.

The minister urged teachers to look beyond the curriculum and remain focused on the students whose futures have been entrusted to them.

“I encourage you to think not only about the curriculum you teach, but about the young people whose future is entrusted to you,” Shafeeu said.