- Overview
- Independent Schools
Primary female–male ratio: 0.98:1 (2011)
Primary pupil–teacher ratio: 11.4:1 (2012)
There are seven years of compulsory education starting at the age of six. Primary school comprises seven years and secondary five, with cycles of three and two years. All administrative atolls have government primary schools and an education centre providing education for all age groups. Most of the many private schools receive state subsidies and are run by the community. The school year starts in January.
There are three streams of Maldivian education: traditional religious schools (makhtabs and madrassas), which teach the Qur’an, basic arithmetic, and the ability to read and write Dhivehi; modern Dhivehi-language primary schools; and modern English-language schools, which were modelled on the British system of education.
Today, the Maldivian post-secondary education sector is growing rapidly, with an increasing number of private providers entering the sector to meet the demand. The government aims to explore a market-based approach to its policy on the expansion of educational services for regional development and facilitate privatisation of these services. Most private schools receive state subsidies and are run by the community, as part of public private partnerships. Examples include international schools such as the Male English School, the Dharumavantha School and the College of Islamic Studies.
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