Online program launched to teach Dhivehi, Islam to locals abroad

An online program under the name ‘Riveli’, aimed at teaching Dhivehi language and Islamic studies in Dhivehi language to locals residing abroad, was launched on Wednesday.

The program was launched by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during his meeting with the Maldivian community living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of his ongoing visit to the country.

Prior to this, Education Minister Dr. Ismail Shafeeu has remarked that the current administration decided to commence efforts to resume teaching Dhivehi language and Islamic studies for Maldivians residing abroad as efforts in this trajectory had been stalled during the former administration.

During President Muizzu’s recent tour of Thaa Atoll – Minister Shafeeu announced the government’s plan to launch an online program for the purpose.

Speaking at tonight’s meeting, Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer described the newly launched program as in important initiative under the administration’s efforts to teach Dhivehi language and Islamic studies to Maldivians residing abroad and to revitalize the Maldivian nationalistic identity.

He added that arrangements will be made in the upcoming days for Maldivians residing in nations that are in different time zones to obtain education through this program.

“Hopefully, in the near future, we will undertake efforts to provide this service to citizens residing in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia,” he said.

Speaking at the meeting, Education Minister Shafeeu expressed confidence that Maldivian parents wish for their children to be educated in line with the spirit of the Maldivian nationalistic identity despite residing abroad.

He cited the introduction of a channel aimed at teaching Dhivehi language and Islamic studies to Maldivians residing abroad as the administration’s current goal.

Underscoring the lack of informative books and fictional stories in Dhivehi language – Minister Shafeeu said the Education Ministry is also presently undertaking efforts to launch books and magazines that align with the modern times and are of interest to children in Dhivehi language, in spite of the expenses this may incur.

Dhivehi language and Islamic studies were previously taught at Sosun Villa in Sri Lanka for locals residing in the country. However, Minister Shafeeu has previously remarked that these efforts had recently slowed down.