Maldives to include Quran studies in national school exams
Education reform frames Quran instruction as moral education pillar, aligning academic curriculum with Maldives’ Islamic identity and values
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives has announced plans to formally integrate Quran studies into its national secondary school examination system, marking a significant policy step that aligns education reform with the country’s Islamic foundations.
Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu said the Quran would be introduced as a subject in the O’ Level Secondary School Certificate examinations, with assessments set to begin on a pilot basis next year. The subject will be officially incorporated into the national examination framework from 2027, he added.
The announcement was made at the start of the new academic year, where the minister outlined a broader vision of education that places moral development and discipline alongside academic achievement.
According to the Education Ministry, the inclusion of Quran studies is intended to strengthen ethical grounding, character formation and social responsibility among students, rather than function solely as religious instruction.
Maldives, a Muslim-majority nation whose constitution identifies Islam as central to national identity, has long included Islamic studies within school curricula.
The move to formally assess Quran studies at the secondary level is being presented as a continuation of that framework, reinforcing religious literacy while maintaining standardized academic evaluation.
Alongside the curriculum change, the minister announced the launch of a new program focused on discipline, positive behavior, and mutual respect in schools. The initiative aims to encourage personal responsibility, respect for teachers and peers, and values-based conduct within educational institutions.
The reforms come as Maldivian authorities seek to balance tradition with modernization. Recognizing the growing role of digital technologies, the minister also said special training programs would be introduced this year to help teachers adapt to and effectively use artificial intelligence tools in classrooms and administrative work.
Education officials say the parallel focus on faith-based learning and technological readiness reflects an effort to prepare students for modern workplaces while grounding them in Islamic ethics and community values. The government has increasingly framed education policy as a space where moral development, national identity and global competitiveness intersect.
By formally integrating Quran studies into national examinations, Maldives is signalling a policy approach that treats religious education as a structured and assessable component of public schooling, rather than an informal or peripheral subject.
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