President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended his best wishes to 84 young Maldivians departing for technical training in B. Kihaadhoo, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to developing a generation equipped with practical skills, confidence and a strong sense of national responsibility.
In a message shared on social media platform X, the President encouraged participants of the third batch of the National Service Technical Training Programme as they prepared to begin their training at the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) School of Engineering and Logistics.
The latest group consists of 64 male and 20 female trainees from 44 islands across 17 atolls, bringing together young people from different parts of the country.
The programme is designed to provide school leavers with vocational knowledge and personal development opportunities, helping prepare them for employment while encouraging discipline, leadership and physical wellbeing.
Introduced as a special initiative under President Muizzu’s administration, the National Service programme has completed its first year of implementation, with more than 1,000 young people having participated in and completed its training activities.
According to information released about the initiative, applications have consistently exceeded the number of places available, reflecting strong interest among young Maldivians seeking structured training and skills development opportunities.
The latest technical training batch represents the next stage of the programme, allowing selected graduates of the initial National Service training to pursue more specialised vocational qualifications.
Participants will undergo a 16-week course at the MNDF School of Engineering and Logistics, where they will receive practical instruction in six technical and administrative fields.
The available courses include Marine Mechanics, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Automobile Engineering, Electrical Installation and Office Management.
These areas have been selected to provide skills relevant to different sectors of the Maldivian economy, particularly industries that depend on qualified technical workers.
Alongside vocational instruction, the programme incorporates physical fitness, swimming, drill exercises and sports, as well as training in teamwork, leadership and personal discipline.
Participants also receive guidance on responsible citizenship, ethical conduct and national identity as part of the programme’s wider focus on personal development.
The government’s stated objective is to help young people enter the workforce with both practical abilities and the confidence to take on professional and community responsibilities.
The initiative comes amid broader efforts to expand vocational education and strengthen the availability of skilled local workers across different industries.
For a geographically dispersed country such as the Maldives, access to specialised technical education can be particularly important for young people living outside the Greater Malé region.
Programmes that bring participants from different islands together also provide opportunities to develop social connections, teamwork and experience working with people from diverse communities.
The administration has meanwhile taken steps to give National Service a more permanent place within the country’s institutional and legal framework.
As part of these efforts, the Ministry of Defence has been renamed the Ministry of Defence and National Service, reflecting the government’s intention to expand the initiative’s role.
A National Service Bill has also been submitted to the People’s Majlis, seeking to establish a formal legislative framework for the programme.
The proposed legislation is intended to provide a legal basis for the initiative as the government works to strengthen and expand its training opportunities.
President Muizzu has identified youth development and technical skills training as important priorities of his administration, with National Service forming part of its approach to preparing young people for employment and responsible citizenship.
His latest message comes as the third technical training batch begins its next stage of education, with the 84 participants expected to spend the coming weeks developing vocational skills and completing the programme’s wider training requirements.
