Ministry of Higher Education has stated that marking World Youth Skills Day at the national level is an encouragement to the efforts to build skilled youth.
On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, the higher education ministry highlighted the government’s efforts to build skilled youth, stating that more than 4,000 students have completed competency-based programmes and obtained national certificates since 2019. In addition, the ministry has been actively engaged in providing education and training in technical and vocational skills, creating employment opportunities, and fostering entrepreneurship development as part of the Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MEERY) project, which is funded by the World Bank.
Additionally, the ministry underscored the success of the national apprenticeship programme, which is an initiative by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment and the Maldives National Skills Development Authority (MNSDA). The purpose of the programme is to train a generation of practitioners of a trade or occupation with on-the-job training with the help and supervision of the industry leaders in the Maldives.
Furthermore, President Solih inaugurated the National Skills Development Master Plan in 2021 as a cornerstone of the administration's commitment to human resource development and to relieve some of the challenges faced in the job market. Moreover, National Trade Testing and Certification Programmes are being conducted to officially recognise and certify skilled workers without academic certificates.
The ministry has also decided to mark World Youth Skills Day by holding a special function and skills show in collaboration with MNSDA and the youth ministry. The ministry will also work with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism to familiarise students with vocational education and employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to officially mark World Youth Skills Day at a national level in the Maldives every year. The decision was made last month following a recommendation from the cabinet of ministers after reviewing a paper submitted by the higher education ministry.
Following the decision, World Youth Skills Day was observed in the Maldives for the first time on July 15. World Youth Skills Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of youth skills development and celebrate young people's achievements.