Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has revealed that 200 more khateebs will be trained by the end of August through the Young Khateebs Programme. The government has set a goal to train 1,000 young khateebs during this term.
The shortage of imams and khateebs in many islands has led to the reliance on foreign imams and the need to bring in khateebs from abroad, especially during Ramadan. The government has initiated a nationwide effort to produce trained khateebs across the country to tackle this issue. As such, in the first round of the training programme, 100 imams have already completed their training, with an additional 200 currently undergoing training. A certificate awarding ceremony is scheduled for August, after which 300 imams will have been trained within eight months.
In a social media post, Minister Shaheem highlighted that the programme is being conducted under the guidance of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He expressed satisfaction with the positive response to the initiative and reaffirmed his commitment to training 1,000 khateebs during this term.
The Islamic ministry has also confirmed that the second batch of the Young Khateebs Programme is in progress, with examinations to be held in three regions including, Male' City, Addu City, and Meemu Atoll. This round of training includes sermons, prayers, and other specialised religious studies. The programme is tailored for students in grades 10, 11, and 12, enabling them to lead Friday prayers. The programme is also a key part of President Dr. Muizzu's efforts to build a society that prioritises religious matters.