Agreements were signed on Tuesday to launch two projects in Raa Atoll aimed at expanding access to higher education and skills training in Innamaadhoo and Hulhudhuffaaru.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development will oversee the construction of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre in Innamaadhoo and an accommodation facility in Hulhudhuffaaru. Both projects will be implemented under a design-and-build model.

The TVET centre in Innamaadhoo will specialise in boat building, a sector of cultural and economic importance to the Maldives. The facility will be developed using prefabricated construction methods to speed up completion and will include modern training infrastructure. The project has been awarded to Central Line Private Limited.

In Hulhudhuffaaru, an accommodation facility will be established to support students studying on the island. The development will include two- and three-bedroom family apartments as well as studio units, all equipped with basic amenities such as kitchen and laundry facilities. The project has been awarded to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Higher Education Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed said the projects are intended to bring quality higher education opportunities closer to communities and strengthen the development of skilled Maldivian youth needed in the labour market. He added that the Government aims to ensure access to higher education either on students’ home islands or nearby islands.