Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu has urged more companies in the Maldives to introduce apprenticeship programmes, highlighting their importance in preparing young people for the workforce and supporting national development.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony of the Dhiraagu Apprentice Programme, Dr Shafeeu praised the initiative and described it as a valuable platform that equips youth with practical skills and real-world experience.

He also emphasised the importance of education and outlined recent progress, noting that A-Level access has now expanded to 77 per cent, a result of the Ministry of Education’s ongoing efforts. He said this expansion is a key step in increasing university enrolment and developing a skilled, local workforce.

Additionally, Dr Shafeeu encouraged more businesses to follow Dhiraagu’s example by offering similar training programmes, stating that such efforts would benefit both young people and the country as a whole.

The Dhiraagu Apprentice Programme is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It provides participants with hands-on job experience and training in fields such as administration, marketing, sales, procurement, corporate services, finance, human resources, and technology, while also allowing them to earn income during the programme.