Academic new year to begin in January starting 2026

The cabinet, on Sunday, has approved shifting the commencement of the academic new year to January 2026.

The cabinet’s decision was disclosed by the Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim during a press conference at the President’s Office on Sunday night.

Disclosing information regarding the cabinet’s decision, Nazim said school students will receive their long holidays in December 2025 with this change.

“Will get the long holidays in December of 2025. That had been the practice when we were in school. In addition to this, the academic new year in 2026 will commence in January, as we had been following before,” he said.

Nazim noted that school students will receive a three-week holiday during July despite the change. The long holiday in December will be four weeks.

Commenting on the cabinet’s decision, Education Ministry told Sun that discussions were not underway regarding further changes that will be made concerning the academic year, which will be disclosed at the earliest.

The former administration shifted the commencement of the academic new year to mid-year in light of the fact that December accounted for tourism peak season due to which tourism sector workers are unable to spend the holidays with their children.

Former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali said the change was made after research. However, with the enforcement of the change, it was highly critiqued as June and July, which would be the long holidays, are months where monsoon rain is experienced obstructing travel.

Shifting the commencement of the academic new year to January is an electoral pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.