President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the power to lead the Maldives on the right path in the future lies in the hands of students.
The President made the remarks while speaking with students of Utheemu, Haa Alif during a visit to the island by the President and First Lady as part of their tour to attend National Day celebrations.
During the meeting, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said the Government’s policies are based on listening to the voices of the people and young people and working to address issues effectively. He highlighted that the views of young people and school students are extremely valuable, and said that the ideas and feelings shared by the students would be taken seriously.
In his remarks, President Muizzu said that the students currently attending schools are the people who will have the power to lead the Maldives in the right direction in the future. Therefore, he said, the Government will always take into consideration the views expressed by every student. He also expressed hope that there would be more opportunities to meet and engage with students in the future.
Highlighting the success of the National Service Programme, the President said the programme was introduced as an opportunity for young people and has received a very positive response. He noted that, with the capacity currently available, approximately 1,000 young people can be trained each year, while every time applications are opened, more than twice the available capacity is received.
The students of Utheemu raised concerns about the lack of a multipurpose hall at the island’s school, which prevents indoor activities from being held. In response, President Muizzu assured them that, although no budget has currently been allocated for the construction of a multipurpose hall at the school, he would ensure that the facility is built.
The students also requested that turf be laid in the area where they play, citing the lack of suitable space at the school for recreational activities. They noted that the island council has already allocated a plot of land large enough for the installation of the turf.
In addition, the students expressed their appreciation for the benefits they have received after Utheemu School was air-conditioned under the Cool Schools Project.
During the meeting, President Muizzu listened to the students’ concerns and responded to their questions. He also discussed the assistance that could be provided by the Government to address their various concerns and assured them that the Government would work towards resolving the issues they had raised.