President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said students hold the fundamental power to steer the Maldives towards a brighter future, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to listening to young people and addressing their needs.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with students of Utheemu School in HA. Utheemu, where he and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed travelled as part of this year’s National Day celebrations.
Addressing the students, President Muizzu said the government’s approach to national development is built around listening to young people and the wider public. He described students’ views as invaluable and pledged to give serious consideration to the ideas and concerns raised during the meeting.
The students highlighted several challenges facing their school, including the lack of suitable recreational facilities. They said students are currently forced to play in dusty outdoor areas while wearing their school uniforms and requested a turfed play area. According to the students, the Utheemu Island Council has already allocated land for the proposed facility.
They also raised the absence of a multipurpose hall, which limits opportunities to conduct indoor activities, and called for greater access to the National Service Programme.
At the same time, the students thanked President Muizzu and the government for air-conditioning Utheemu School through the Cool School initiative, saying the improvement has created a more comfortable learning environment.
Responding to their concerns, President Muizzu highlighted strong demand for the National Service Programme. He said existing institutional capacity allows around 1,000 young people to receive training annually, while applications for each intake are roughly double the number of available places.
The President also addressed the students’ request for a multipurpose hall. Although the facility is not currently included in the state budget, he assured students that the government would facilitate its development.
President Muizzu reiterated that empowering young Maldivians remains central to his administration’s agenda, assuring students that relevant state institutions would work to address their concerns and provide necessary support.
The meeting formed part of the President and First Lady’s visit to Utheemu for National Day celebrations, held in the historically significant island associated with national hero Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam.
