Twenty imams has departed for Brunei yesterday under the training program for imams, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs revealed.

Islamic Minister Dr. Mohammed Shaheem Ali Saeed said in a post on X yesterday that he met with 20 imams who were leaving for Brunei yesterday.

This marks the 3rd time imams are traveling abroad this year for training purposes. This year, 60 imams have gone abroad for training programs.

"Imams will travel to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Kuwait this year under the training program," Shaheem further revealed.

The Islamic Minister said that the government has decided to send Maldivians to countries such as Thailand to train imams. Shaheem said this at a meeting held at the Islamic Center on January 30 this year to train and refresh the imams.

Minister Shaheem said the main purpose of the programs is to include the imams in mosques as academically competent people and to end the practice of doing only certificate courses. He also wants to make imams strong personalities who have been taught through scholars.