Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu stated that students should have the opportunity to participate in enjoyable activities, highlighting that a balanced development is crucial for successful learning. The Minister delivered the comments during the Top Achievers 2026 awards event on Saturday.

The Minister emphasized that learners in every grade must take more responsibility for their education. He encouraged students to consider if they have achieved their highest potential while expressing pride in this year's outcomes.

“I think that by collaborating, we can reach even greater results.” Dr. Ismail Shafeeu remarked that one of the key aspects to emphasize is that students need to assume more responsibility for their education.

He emphasized that students need to develop a greater intrinsic drive for learning. He mentioned that when learners assume responsibility for their education, it enhances their learning attitudes and aids them in creating varied cognitive strategies to grasp lessons more efficiently.

The Minister stated that studies consistently indicate that students who participate in self-regulated learning, demonstrate initiative, assess their progress, and utilize metacognitive skills are more likely to achieve continued learning success. Consequently, he stated that these practices ought to be promoted at all levels of education.

The Minister indicated that a robust tuition culture has emerged in the Maldives, where students attend school for six hours and engage in an extra four to six hours of tutoring at home.

"We need to contemplate this thoroughly." “Students require assistance beyond the classroom, but this support should be delivered in a manner that does not lessen their involvement with the lessons presented at school,” said Dr. Ismail Shafeeu.

He stated that students ought to be motivated to focus more on classroom teaching and cautioned that too much time dedicated to tuition can adversely impact students’ health and wellbeing.