Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan has commended the ratification of the Maldives Higher Education Act, and urged full cooperation from state institutions in implementing the new act.
On May 16, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the Maldives Higher Education Bill, which sets down the legal framework of standards and policies to provide and develop higher education and training in the Maldives. Upon ratification, Minister Hassan held a virtual meeting with senior officials of the relevant institutions and urged them to provide full cooperation in implementing the new laws and policies. He said the ministry has begun work on making the necessary changes and commended the government on introducing laws for higher education for the first time in the Maldives.
The Higher Education Act stipulates the establishment of the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA), an independent entity mandated with assuring the quality of post-secondary qualifications awarded in the testimony of educational attainments. The law would transfer all property, assets, resources, budget, responsibilities, legal obligations, and staff employed by the previously created MQA to the new body. The higher education minister would be liable for all matters related to the new MQA.
The law further outlines processes to register and operate higher education institutions and stipulate their standards. It ensures establishing a higher education system with equal opportunities for all Maldivians and promotes longevity of the educational services.