This year's higher secondary examinations (A-Levels) commenced today with over 4,900 student participants.

The Ministry of Education stated that 4,973 students are sitting for the exams across 53 centers this year, alongside 2,263 students taking the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination.

Among the examination centers, 3,284 students are sitting across four centers in the Malé region, while 1,689 students are taking exams across 49 centers in the atolls. The A-Level examinations will run from today until October 30th.

As the exams began today, the government has launched a pilot program in 23 schools across the atolls—excluding Malé—aimed at increasing enrollment for grades 11 and 12.

Highlighting participation trends, the ministry noted that while 6,700 students completed their O-Levels in 2023, only 2,100 proceeded to A-Levels. In contrast, out of 6,500 O-Level graduates in 2025, 3,200 enrolled for A-Levels, with this year's A-Level candidates now surging past 4,000.

The Ministry of Education stated that the government's primary goal is to eliminate student dropout policies and establish A-Levels as an accessible school-leaving milestone across the Maldives by the end of the current five-year term.