School long holidays shifted back to December as requested by parents

School long holidays which is placed in the middle of the academic year has been shifted back to December following concerns from parents.

The former administration shifted the long holidays to the middle of the academic year citing parents who faced difficulties in talking holidays from work such as resort employees would get the opportunity to spend holidays with their family. The tourist season which begins in December restricts such employees from taking holidays due to the busy work schedule.

Then-Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali said the change was made after extensive research. However, the change was highly scrutinized as the long holiday, which falls on July with change, would obstruct travel as it coincides with the rainy season.

As such, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had pledged to shift back the long holidays to December during his election campaign.

To implement the pledge, the cabinet, in January, approved shifting the commencement of the academic new year to January starting from 2026.

According the academic calendar publicized by the Education Ministry on Tuesday, the ongoing second term will conclude on December 25^th, with the long holidays commencing on December 28^th.

The new academic year will commence on January 27^th, 2026. However, teachers are required to return to work on January 25^th.

According to Education Ministry, there are some 84,000 students currently enrolled in schools across the Maldives. There are also some 11,000 teachers working in schools, some 10,000 of whom are working in public schools.