Over 15,000 Students Begin O Level Examinations Across Maldives

More than 15,000 students across the Maldives have begun sitting for their O Level examinations, marking a critical milestone for the nation's Grade 10 cohort. The examination period, which commenced today with the HSC Dhivehi paper, is scheduled to run through November 12. According to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development, the candidates are split between two primary streams: 8,111 students are taking the O Level IGCSE exams, while 7,776 students are sitting the O Level HSC exams. To accommodate this volume of students, the government has deployed a massive logistical network of testing sites. In the Malé region, 25 centers have been established to serve 3,222 students. Meanwhile, to ensure accessibility for those in the outer atolls, 242 centers have been set up to support 2,869 students across the islands. Speaking in an exclusive interview with PSM News, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development Dr. Ismail Shafeeu offered words of encouragement to the candidates. The Minister urged students to maintain a balanced mindset, advising them to avoid excessive stress and panic during the testing period. He further encouraged students to start their days with prayer and spiritual reflection to find the strength and focus necessary for their success. This year's exams follow significant policy shifts implemented by the government in December 2023. Under the revised regulations, students must now complete four compulsory subjects: Dhivehi, Islam, English, and Mathematics. Additionally, the government has restructured the national academic calendar. Starting this year, the academic cycle will begin in January, granting students an extended holiday in December. This move reverses a previous policy where the academic year began mid-year, aligning the school system with a more traditional calendar year to better support student well-being and administrative efficiency.