A total of 73 young Maldivians have enrolled in the third cohort of the National Apprenticeship Programme under the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts.

The inaugurating ceremony, held at Sheraton Maldives, was conducted in partnership with Marriott International. During the event, participants received certificates of selection from Deputy Minister Mohamed Aseel, who reiterated the Government's commitment to building a skilled and self-reliant youth population.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister highlighted that the programme equips young people with essential practical skills across key sectors, aligned with the standards of the Maldives National Skills Development Authority. Given the significant proportion of youth in the Maldivian population, the Ministry underscored the importance of such initiatives in preparing them for meaningful participation in the workforce, while also helping to reduce unemployment by developing capable individuals to contribute to national development.

Participants will undergo ten months of training, which includes both theoretical instruction and practical experience. Sheraton Maldives General Manager Ellen Gregg noted that the curriculum has been designed to give apprentices exposure to real-world settings in addition to classroom learning. 

The training focuses on six critical sectors: tourism, transport, construction, social services, fisheries, and agriculture. According to the Ministry, the current intake is the largest since the programme's inception, surpassing the 52 graduates of the previous cohort.