Conformity and Contestation

Abstract

The Republic of Maldives, a unique archipelagic state, has succeeded in developing a unified national system of education. Curriculum reforms have been initiated to develop key competencies among children related to critical thinking, creativity, living a healthy life and developing skills for greater use of technology. The Republic also has the distinction of achieving universalisation of primary education and thereby being overtly closer to Millennium Development Goals. However in-depth research study undertaken in Male and in a few Atolls in 2007 portrayed that schooling and classroom processes were sites of conformity and contestation. With the change in the political landscape of Maldives the educational scenario has also witnessed changes. The present article attempts to highlight the efforts being made by the government in addressing practical needs and systemic issues that would initiate changes in the domain of Maldivian education by making it responsive to forces of globalisation and the needs and aspirations of all its stakeholders. This would go a long way in removing gap between policy rhetoric and schooling processes.