Education Minister Sounds Alarm: Extra-curricular Activities Threatening Academic Excellence

Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafiu has called for a careful balance between extracurricular activities and students' educational priorities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a crucial consultation meeting, the Minister expressed serious concerns about how the current scheduling of extra-curricular activities in schools and islands is negatively impacting students' academic progress.

To tackle this pressing issue, the Ministry has organized a comprehensive two-day consultation meeting bringing together 92 key stakeholders. The diverse group of participants includes school principals, community organization representatives, local council members, school sports supervisors, and officials from the Islamic Ministry.

During his address, Dr. Shafiu outlined several critical considerations for future activity planning. He emphasized the need to create an environment conducive to learning while ensuring teacher and student well-being. The Minister also stressed the importance of making parental involvement manageable and considering the geographical challenges unique to the Maldives when planning activities.

The consultation aims to develop a framework that will help schools maintain a healthy balance between academic pursuits and extra-curricular activities, ensuring that supplementary programs enhance rather than hinder students' educational journey.

This initiative represents a significant step toward reforming how schools organize their additional activities, with the ultimate goal of prioritizing academic excellence while maintaining meaningful extra-curricular engagement.