The "Vilunveshi" programme is not intended solely for schools in Male'. Instead, the Government aims to expand the programme to schools on islands across the Maldives, according to Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Ali Shareef.
The minister made these remarks during a special interview with PSM News about the Vilunveshi programme. Under the initiative, the first "School Garden" has been inaugurated at Hiriya School. The garden established at the school has been named "Garden of Growth".
Minister Ali Shareef said the programme's primary objectives are to strengthen food security and equip students with practical knowledge of modern agricultural technologies. Through facilities such as greenhouses and horizontal and vertical hydroponic farming systems, students will gain hands-on experience with contemporary farming methods.
The minister noted that while climate change and food security are widely discussed, teachers have long expressed concern over the lack of opportunities for students to experience these concepts in practice.
"Beyond simply learning from textbooks, we want children to experience these practices first-hand and understand that this is something already being done in the Maldives and can be developed further. We hope to inspire students by showing them the benefits of these methods and prepare the next generation to take them forward," he said.
The minister added that the project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development. He said establishing school gardens would enrich classroom learning while encouraging greater student interest in agriculture.
Although the programme has begun at Hiriya School, the Government's key objective is to expand it to more schools in Male' and to schools on islands across the atolls, making these opportunities available to a greater number of students.
The Vilunveshi programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy under the "Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security" (ECRFS) project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, Ocean Resources and Agriculture.
The school garden developed under the programme incorporates a range of modern agricultural technologies. These include vertical growing systems, specialised hydroponic systems for cultivating leafy vegetables, and a dedicated area for growing fruit. The Ministry also stated that a rainwater harvesting system has been installed to collect and store rainwater, providing an efficient irrigation system for the plants.