Maldives Launches Digital for All Campaign to Train 225,000 Citizens in AI

The Maldivian government has officially launched "Digital for All," a nationwide initiative aimed at boosting digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy. Part of the broader "Maldives 2.0" Digital Transformation Agenda, the campaign seeks to ensure that the country's rapid technological expansion translates into tangible skills for its population. Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Skills Development Dr. Ismail Shafeeu inaugurated the program alongside a high-level delegation, including the ministers of Homeland Security and Technology, Health, Family and Welfare, and Climate Change, Environment and Energy. Together, they emphasized the need to bridge the gap between having access to digital tools and possessing the functional skills to use them effectively. Designed as a three-year project, the campaign has set an ambitious goal of reaching 75,000 participants annually, totaling 225,000 citizens by the end of its term. The program is open to Maldivians of all ages, ensuring that the benefits of the evolving digital economy are accessible to every generation, from students to retirees. The initiative will be operationalized by The Future Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Homeland Security, with technical support provided by MINDCo. To ensure personalized learning, MINDCo stated that participants will undergo an initial assessment to determine their current skill levels before entering specialized training tracks. The rollout begins with a "training of trainers" phase to develop a local network of qualified instructors. Following this, a pilot program will be deployed across six atolls, prioritizing the most populous islands to maximize immediate impact. This strategic phased approach is intended to ensure that digital literacy penetrates every corner of the archipelago, preventing a digital divide between the capital and the outer islands.