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Table of Contents
Overview
The Maldives is a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean consisting of 1,192 islands spread across 26 coral atolls, making it one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world. Maldives is famous for its pristine beaches and marine biodiversity, but faces challenges such as rising sea levels and coral reef degradation. Environmental education is integrated into national curriculum frameworks and through key initiatives such as the Fehi Madharusa framework (Green school framework), and in national policy plans.
Policy & Practice
National Policy
The Education Act (2020) of Maldives stipulates protecting the environment and biodiversity as one of the aims of the education system. Furthermore, a series of National Environment Action Plans (first, second, and third national action plans) included promoting environmental education and awareness as key objectives, including developing a national environmental education strategy and resource materials for schools. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2025 includes plans to revise the school curriculum to include environmental conservation topics at all levels of education. The National Climate Action Plan places public education and awareness programmes as central strategies of Maldives’ climate adaptation agenda.
EE in K-12 Education
Maldives’ National Curriculum Framework (NCF) emphasizes sustainability, climate change, and environmental awareness as key learning objectives. Environmental topics and content is integrated in the Environment, Science and Technology, and Social Science learning areas of the curriculum.
Professional Development
The National Institute of Education, under the Ministry of Education, is a primary source of professional development opportunities for environmental educators, mostly in the form of special training workshops. For example, the National Institute of Education provides teacher training under the Fehi Madharusa framework (Green school framework), including using a training of trainers model. Another example of specialized training workshops was a training on Marine Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services for secondary school teachers sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
Additional professional development opportunities are in the form of resources for teachers, including lesson plans and guides, developed by organizations such as Live & Learn Environmental Education. These resources include Best Practice Guidelines for Teaching Environmental Studies in Maldivian Primary Schools.
Leadership
National Associations
Maldives is a member of South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), an intergovernmental organization that has implemented environmental education projects and programmes across member states. Maldives is also a member of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP), a global initiative led by UNESCO that aims to make education systems more climate-conscious and sustainable. It takes a whole-of-system approach, working with governments, civil society, youth, academia, and the private sector to integrate climate education into learning at all levels. Maldives also participates in the GLOBE Initiative, an international science and education initiative that engages students, educators, and the public in environmental monitoring and research.
EE in National Government
The Environmental Law and Awareness Unit within the Ministry of Tourism and Environment is tasked with planning and implementing environmental public awareness programmes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also supports environmental education through its roles as the GLOBE Initiative’s country coordinator.
National EE Campaigns and Funding
The Fehi Madharusa framework (Green school framework), launched under Maldives’ Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) country initiative, is an environmental education initiative in the Maldives that encourages schools to adopt sustainable practices and integrate eco-literacy into their curricula. The initiative is funded and supported by the Government of the Maldives , the Green Climate Fund and UNICEF. The Fehi Madharusa framework was designed in partnership between the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education, and Soneva Namoona.
The Maldives Green Fund (MGF) is a trust fund established in 2019 by the Maldives Government to support environmental conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development in the Maldives. Target areas for expenditure from the MGF include environmental awareness and climate advocacy programs conducted at the national level and in protected areas.
The Maldives Manta Conservation Programme (MMCP) is a conservation initiative dedicated to protecting manta rays and their habitats through community engagement, research, and education. MMCP has an education and outreach program focused on marine education, including Moodhu Madharusaa—meaning "Ocean School" in Dhivehi. Moodhu Madharusaa is a 6 month marine education program delivered in secondary schools.
- Organizations
Ministry of Tourism and Environment
https://www.environment.gov.mv/v2/en/
Environmental Protection Agency
Live & Learn Environmental Education
https://livelearn.org.mv/resources/
National Institute of Education
Soneva Namoona
Bluepeace
https://www.bluepeacemaldives.org/index.htm
Maldives Manta Conservation Programme
Country Map