Bureau Chief of the Parliament Office and former Vilimalé Member of Parliament Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has said the introduction of minimum academic qualifications for political appointees will strengthen public confidence and support merit-based governance.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu recently announced new criteria for key Government positions, requiring State Ministers to hold a Master’s degree and Deputy Ministers to possess at least a Bachelor’s degree.

In a social media post, Nihan said the decision represents an important reform aimed at ensuring appointments are based on education and professional competence.

He noted that Maldivian families have long made significant sacrifices to provide higher education for their children, adding that there has been growing concern that such qualifications were not adequately reflected in public appointments.

Nihan said the introduction of clear academic standards would help address these concerns, describing it as a step towards strengthening governance and improving accountability in the public sector.

He added that the reform is expected to encourage greater emphasis on education and professionalism, while reinforcing confidence in the fairness of the appointment process.