News Desk
HULHUMALÉ — The nation celebrated its brightest young minds as secondary and higher secondary students were recognised for outstanding academic excellence in the Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge international examinations.
The annual National Top Achievers Award ceremony, conducted across five sessions on 11 and 12 July at the Centre for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) in Hulhumalé, saw dozens of students awarded for their exceptional performances.
Highlighting the ceremony, four Maldivian students achieved the prestigious Pearson Edexcel Outstanding Learner Award for securing the highest marks worldwide in their respective subjects.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu presented the top honours to:
- Ali Maiz Mufeed (Economics) – CHSE
- Leen Ahmed Thoriq (Business) – CHSE
- Nishya Waheed (Business) – CHSE
- Iba Ahmed Ali (Chemistry) – Gnaviyani Atoll Education Centre
In addition, seven high achievers earned the President’s Special Scholarship after securing straight A* grades across five subjects. Beyond traditional sciences and humanities, this cohort demonstrated exceptional results in both Dhivehi Language and Islamic Studies.
At the secondary level, 67 students received Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards for national and international placements in the Cambridge IGCSE examinations, while 23 candidates secured the top position nationwide for the 2025 exam series.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Education Dr Ismail Shafeeu attributed the impressive achievement rates to recent structural reforms in the national education system.
The Minister revealed that student enrolment in higher secondary education has now reached 48 per cent, following targeted public awareness campaigns and revised education policies designed to encourage continued learning post-Grade 10.
Outlining future plans, Dr Shafeeu emphasised the government’s commitment to diversifying learning pathways beyond traditional academic streams.
Construction contracts for the nation’s first dedicated Vocational High School in Male’ are scheduled to be awarded this coming August. The initiative will be paired with expanded apprenticeship programs to offer practical career pathways for students completing secondary school.
