The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has announced ongoing preparations to conduct programmes in Dhihdhoo, Haa Alif Atoll, and Alifushi, Raa Atoll, starting from the second semester of the year.
The Junior College in Dhihdhoo will specialise in providing various courses of different levels related to the food processing industry. Meanwhile, the TVET Centre in Alifushi will specialise in offering courses related to the boat building industry. It has been decided that additional vocational courses from different fields will also be initiated in these institutes.
Speaking to PSM News about the projects aimed at expanding higher education in various parts of the country, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Ahmed Shafeeu revealed that while the construction of the TVET Centre and Junior College is completed, work on the dormitories of the TVET Centre is currently underway. However, he said the work to prepare dormitories in the Junior College has not been awarded to any contractors yet and is currently in the tendering stage. Despite the incomplete status of the institutes, the minister stated that some necessary devices required to conduct the programmes have been installed, and the programmes can be launched on the finished floors, he added.
Additionally, Minister Shafeeu disclosed that although an initiative was taken to develop the campus of Polytechnic in Thulhusdhoo, Kaafu Atoll, to function as a TVET Centre, no construction work had started to this date despite contracts being made with individual firms. He further observed that no work has been done so far to establish the TVET Centre in Kendhikulhudhoo, Noonu Atoll, as planned.
The planned TVET Centres in various parts of the nation will have facilities to conduct workshops and experiments in laboratories related to the specialization programmes, along with multipurpose workshops and classrooms. These institutes will also feature areas for administrative works, staff rooms, student services, auditoriums, meeting rooms, study rooms, and libraries. Additionally, activity centers and gyms will be established within the institutes to ensure the healthy lifestyles of students.