About the National Institute of Education

A Brief Introduction About NIE

The Educational Project Office (EPO) was established in 1976 under the Ministry of Education. The main activities of the office are the design of curricula, the preparation and printing of books, the training of teachers, the construction of schools in the provinces, the production of educational radio programs for public awareness and the community education movement running the ths.

In 1979, the Educational Development Center (EDC) was established to further strengthen the work of the EPO. In 1981, it ws designated that in Dhivehi Language, the center will be called as “Dhivehi Raajjeyge Thauleemu Kuriaruvaa Marukazzu”.

In 1984, the Teacher Education Center was established to further expand the work of teacher training and in-service teachers at EDC. In 1998, the Maldives College of Higher Education was established and teacher training was transferred to the Faculty of Education . However, in 2003, the responsibility of training in-service teachers was transferred to EDC under the Ministry of Education and the Professional Development Unit was established at the EDC.

Similarly, the need to expand the non-formal education work at EDC increased and to further strengthen it, the Non-Formal Education Section was established on 1 January 1986. On 1 October 2002, the office was renamed the Center for Continuing Education (CCE). ) The responsibility of this office is to provide education and skills to the public through non-formal education and to help the public to participate in social and economic development. Since 2002, work related to early childhood education and upbringing has been started at CCE. Furthermore, during November 2008, the government organized for the CCE to oversee the professional development activities for teachers, which took place at EDC.

With this change, the CCE also assumed the responsibility of coordinating and overseeing the operations of the Teacher Resource Centers established in every Atoll of the Maldives.

The Cabinet on 30 October 2012 decided to establish the National Institute of Education to replace the Education Development Center and the Center for Continuing Education. The National Institute of Education was officially established on 12 December 2012.

Mission

Facilitate constant learning with research and new innovations.

Vision

To be an educationally empowering and innovative institute

History

Cooperative Affairs Section

Curriculum Development Division

Develop the national curriculum in line with the evolving developmental landscape of Maldives
Create syllabus documents, textbooks, teacher guides, and other necessary resources in alignment with the national curriculum, to facilitate schools to effectively implement it
Conduct orientation programs necessary for implementation of the National Curriculum
Support research studies aimed at evaluating the implementation of the National Curriculum
Support schools in enhancing their professional capacities to foster positive character, instill values, and cultivate essential skills in students as prescribed in the national curriculum
Develop a vocational and technical education curriculum and offer professional assistance to schools to facilitate its implementation
Evaluate the implementation of the national curriculum, adapt the curriculum as needed to align with current trends, and provide necessary professional support to schools
Establish the national standards for attainment within the national curriculum.
Explore and test innovative ways of implementing the national curriculum, and provide support to schools to implement them

Teacher Development Division

Provide professional support to schools in the effective implementation of the Maldives National Curriculum.
Support schools in enhancing their professional capacities to foster positive character, instill values, and cultivate essential skills in students as prescribed in the national curriculum.
Conduct teacher professional development programs to enhance their teaching skills.
Plan and implement leadership training programs for staff in leadership positions of schools.
Deliver the necessary training to schools for the effective implementation and continuity of school-based professional development programmes.
Monitor and keep records of school-based professional development in schools while providing necessary guidance and support.
Design and develop modules and necessary resources in various areas required for teacher capacity building.
Develop and sustain a mechanism for delivering online training to support the professional development of teachers.
Establish a mechanism to organise subject teachers’ forums for the purpose of enhancing teaching and learning of specific subjects
Monitor the activities of teacher resource centers.
Explore and test innovative ways of implementing the national curriculum, and provide support to schools to implement them.
Develop and conduct training courses to enhance the capacity of leadership and teaching staff in the schools and continuously improve quality of teaching and learning.
Develop the capacity of schools to use Information Communication Technology (ICT) in learning and teaching.
Establish and monitor a system of providing mentoring support to newly recruited teachers to enable them to familiarise with the school environment and enhance their teaching skills and competencies.

Early Childhood Development Division

Develop syllabus documents and other essential teaching and learning resources for the Foundation Stage within the National Curriculum
Conduct orientation programs for facilitating the effective implementation of the Foundation Stage in the National Curriculum.
Support schools in enhancing their professional capacities to foster positive character, instill values, and cultivate essential skills in students as prescribed for Foundation Stage in the National Curriculum.
Develop and conduct training programs to develop the professional capacity of preschool teachers and leading teachers.
Design and implement initiatives on early childhood education, positive parenting and child development.

Continue and Community Education Division

Promote and offer community education and continuing education opportunities
Conduct awareness programmes addressing diverse societal needs and contribute to the enhancement of a range of vocational skills.
To provide additional learning opportunities to children who drop out of schools without completing general education and those who do not meet the requirements to enter higher education and training after completing secondary education.
Plan, implement and supervise adult literacy, functional literacy, and basic literacy programmes and maintain records of illiteracy in the country.
Conduct a range of parent education initiatives on their role in nurturing and educating children

Research, Innovation and Academic Qualty Division

Research on the transformations required in the education sector in response to the contemporary issues occurring in the country
Provide technical advice to the Ministry in formulating the education policy.
Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the national curriculum and share findings with the relevant authorities
Creating a culture of research in the schools of Maldives
Conduct research and publish findings on the impact assessment of various activities carried out by NIE
Develop, standardize and disseminate instruments for educational research
Publish various studies conducted by NIE
Explore and test innovative ways of implementing the national curriculum, and provide support to schools to implement them.
Ensure that educational programs delivered to students under the age of 18 by various bodies outside the implementation of the National Curriculum facilitate the social, spiritual and emotional well-being of the students