Maldives National University (MNU) has decided to conduct a study to find out why male students are not interested in pursuing higher education.

In a video interview given today, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mariyam Mariya said that it has been noted that the number of male students interested in pursuing higher education is lower than female students, whether in the field of teaching or other fields.

Mariya said that MNU has decided to conduct a study to determine the reason for this.

"I want to highlight that there are more female teachers than male teachers, not only in teaching but also in other subjects and fields, there are very few male students who want to study. This is a very big problem. A very big challenge. Maldives National University is also conducting research to find the reason behind this problem. Why? Why are there no or few male students in higher education? This research will also reveal the causes behind these challenges," said Mariya.

Mariya further said that to understand the reason for the shortage of Maldivian teachers, she has met and talked with students from some atolls and Malé. She said that the students highlighted long working hours and low salaries as some of the reasons.

"When talking to students we meet during trips to islands and in Malé, many students don't want to become teachers. The students we talked to most noted the reason they don't want to is because, according to them, they have to spend a lot of time. Morning, afternoon, and night. This is one reason they say. While working as a teacher requires a lot of work. And they say that the salary is not commensurate with that work. That's why they don't want to become teachers," said Mariya.