President Solih: Certificate level courses to be made free in a second term

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced plans to expand his administration’s free degree program to include certificate-level courses as part of his high education policies if elected for a second term.

The president commenced a campaign tour of Alifu Alifu Atoll and Alifu Dhaalu Atoll on Wednesday. His first stop was Thoddoo, where he met with the residents and briefed them regarding his pledges and policies should he be elected for a second term in office.

In this regard, the president, under his higher education policies, pledged to facilitate certificate-level courses, free-of-charge, starting next year. However, he provided no further details.

“It includes making courses starting from certificate level one, free of charge, under free degree. We will pave to study for free starting from certificate level one till degree within the next five years,” he said.

Underscoring it was his sixth visit to Thoddoo in his presidential capacity, President Solih described Thoddoo as an island that is not distant from main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

He detailed that 19 projects have been carried out at Thoddoo throughout this term, which includes seven projects related to electoral projects. From these seven projects, he noted four have been completed.

The president said efforts will commence issuing additional 200 land plots from Thoddoo once the issuance of 100 land plots presently planned begins.

“What I want to say to you, is to trust us,” he added.

“We are pledging to build your lives. We have no other desire,” he stressed.

Speaking further, President Solih said his priority, in a second term, will also be to equally bring development across the nation.

He stated his pledges for Thoddoo in a second term as;

• Development of a social centre
• Building a new office for the council with the necessary facilities
• Addition of six classrooms, a library and a science lab to the school
• Building a new mosque
• Developing a multi-facility park

President Solih cited what citizens need to think about when they cast their vote as whether they wished to continue with development. In this trajectory, he noted witnessing the desire of people to move forward with development from all islands he visited for far in his campaign tour.

“By the will of God, we will win the upcoming presidential election in just one round, by a landslide,” he added.