The Government has pledged to ensure that all necessary textbooks will be available in schools ahead of the new academic session, which is set to begin on April 6.

To avoid the recurring delays experienced in previous years, the process of supplying textbooks for the upcoming academic year was initiated as early as December.

In past years, parents had frequently raised concerns about the late distribution of books, with some schools receiving them weeks after the academic year had already started.

Under the current Administration there has been a renewed focus on student welfare. In line with this priority, the Ministry of Education began distributing textbooks four months ago to ensure their timely availability. The Government has further assured that all students will have access to the required books before the academic session begins.

Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu confirmed that all textbooks for the new academic year had been printed and were currently in the custody of the Ministry of Education. He reported that 81 per cent of the books had already been delivered to schools, with the remaining stock scheduled for distribution in the coming week. To further streamline the process, textbooks for students in Key Stages 1 and 2 are being pre-packaged into individual sets before being sent to schools.

Beyond textbook distribution, the Ministry of Education has undertaken extensive preparations to ensure a smooth start to the academic year. A total of MVR 15 million has been allocated for school repairs and maintenance, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure. Furthermore, Minister Dr Shafeeu reassured parents and students that there would be no shortage of teachers, ensuring that learning continues without disruption.

The previous academic year concluded on February 25, with the extended holiday coinciding with Ramadan. The upcoming academic session is scheduled to begin on April 6 and will end on December 28.

Under the previous government, the academic year began in the middle of the year. However, in response to requests from parents and students, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu introduced a structural reform upon taking office. From 2026 onwards, the academic year will officially commence in January.