Schools across the Maldives reopened on Sunday for the second academic term, following a 16-day inter-term break. The return to classrooms marks a key moment in the academic year for approximately 90,000 students, as the government prepares to implement a significant reform to the national school calendar.
Students began their first term holiday on 24 July. With the second term now underway, classes are scheduled to continue until 25 December. The academic year will then conclude with the annual holiday period, observed from 28 December through to 22 January.
The calendar reform reflects a reversal of the previous administration's decision to initiate the school year mid-year. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's government has confirmed that, beginning in 2026, the academic year will officially commence on 27 January, restoring the traditional January start long favoured by educators and institutions.
The Maldivian education system currently accommodates approximately 90,000 students, with nearly 84,000 enrolled in 217 government-run schools across the country. Data continues to show a pronounced concentration of students in the capital region: the 19 schools located in Malé account for 33 percent of total enrolment. In parallel, 21 percent of the nation's educational workforce is employed within these Malé-based institutions.