Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that private colleges and higher education institutions in the Maldives adhere to the standards set by the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA).

Speaking at Ahaa, the public Ministerial Forum organised by the President’s Office in collaboration with Public Service Media (PSM), Minister Dr Haidar addressed concerns regarding the quality of education provided by higher education institutions across the country.

The forum, part of a series of events designed to facilitate direct engagement between the public and Government Ministers, provided an opportunity for discussions on key national issues.

The Minister emphasised that maintaining and enhancing the standards of higher education is a primary responsibility of the Ministry. He assured the public that all private colleges and universities are subject to regulatory oversight to ensure they provide education of a high standard.

Furthermore, he underscored that institutions are required to operate in accordance with the national qualification framework established by the Government.

The Minister also spoke of the critical role of the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) in overseeing and verifying educational standards. He noted that the Authority is responsible for ensuring that all courses meet prescribed criteria both prior to their introduction and throughout their delivery.

While outlining the Government’s regulatory efforts, the Minister acknowledged that challenges remain in maintaining consistent quality across all institutions. He stated that although significant progress has been made, further measures are required to strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure that private colleges and universities meet public expectations.

He further noted that full compliance with the qualification framework remains an ongoing challenge; however, he expressed confidence that these issues would be effectively addressed, and that in the near future, all private colleges and higher education institutions would operate within the prescribed standards.

In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding the quality of education provided by some higher education institutions in the Maldives. Experts in the field have suggested that previous administrations did not take adequate steps to regulate and improve the sector.

In light of this, the current Government has pledged to implement more stringent oversight and enhance the overall credibility of higher education.