University Capstone: Advancements Impact on Maldives Education

This capstone project investigates the influence of current advancements on the quality of education in the Maldives. It begins by highlighting the country's economic reliance on tourism and the Ministry of Education's focus on improving educational standards. The research explores the impact of advanced classroom training methods and government initiatives on primary education, while also addressing challenges like limited access to tertiary and vocational education. The study examines factors affecting educational quality, including teacher competency and infrastructure limitations, and emphasizes the need for curriculum reviews and alignment with labor market demands. The project aims to identify the significant impacts of advancements, analyze barriers, and offer recommendations for improvement. The literature review provides a theoretical framework, discussing quality improvement in education, relevant factors, and the theoretical conceptualization of quality improvement. The methodology includes a research design, data collection, and analysis. The project also includes an analysis of public expenditure, advancements in teaching staff, and UNICEF's response to educational challenges, concluding with recommendations for enhancing educational quality in the Maldives.

Running head: CAPSTONE PROJECT
Capstone Project
Name of the Student:
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Abstract
The research is mainly focusing on the current advancements brought to the educational
institutions to improve the quality of education in Maldives. It has been observed that currently
Maldives has captured the leading position in the tourism sector that contributes to the growing
economy of the country. The research highlights on such impacts occurred on the educational
quality due to the current advancements. The literature provides the enriched ideas about the
procedures of developing educational quality and developing the skills and competency level of
the workforce for the betterment of future. The study implies that the ministry of education is
contributing to the better opportunities in educational field to improve the quality of education. It
is notified that both the training and teaching contents are needed to the closely aligned with the
projected skill requirements of the labor market. The use of the secondary data collection process
helped in identifying the major advancements brought to the educational filed of Maldives. The
study recommends that adopting the child-friendly teaching methods would be much beneficial
in encouraging the youth to learn the innovative process of education.

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Table of Contents
Title of the Project...........................................................................................................................4
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Background of the Research......................................................................................................4
1.2 Rationale of the Research..........................................................................................................5
1.3 Research Aim.............................................................................................................................6
1.4 Research Objectives...................................................................................................................6
1.4 Literature Limitations and areas of controversies.....................................................................6
1.5 Research Hypothesis..................................................................................................................7
2.0 Literature Review......................................................................................................................7
2.1 Quality improvement in Education............................................................................................7
2.2 Theoretical Conceptualization of Quality Improvement in Education......................................9
2.3 Factors affecting quality in education......................................................................................10
2.4 Current advancements in educational field impacting on education quality in Maldives.......12
2.5 Relevancy and Appropriateness of the aims and literature approach......................................13
3.0 Research Methodology............................................................................................................13
3.1 Research Design......................................................................................................................14
3.2 Data Collection and Analysis..................................................................................................14
3.3 Timeline...................................................................................................................................15
4. Analysis and Discussion............................................................................................................16
 Public expenditure on education in Maldives........................................................................16
 Advancements in Teaching staffs in Maldives.......................................................................18
 Response from UNICEF to address the educational challenges in Maldives........................19

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5. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................21
References......................................................................................................................................24

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Title of the Project
Impact of Current Advancements in the Educational Field to Improve the Quality of Education in
Maldives
1.0 Introduction
Quality in education is a concept that holds mostly the multifaceted and complex
characterization. Maldives, being one of the smallest countries in Asia, has been facing the
geographical challenges in a significant manner (Marope, Chakroun & Holmes, 2015). However,
in the post globalization era, the advancements took place even in the education field. The
Ministry of Education has adopted the advancements to contribute growth to the schools and
educational institutes. The strong growth in the tourism sector has been contributing to the
economy of this country. However, currently, the country is also focusing on the improvement in
the educational field. The study would thus highlight the impacts of the current advancements on
the educational quality in Maldives. The use of the appropriate literature and methodological
process would help in structuring the entire research in a systematic way.
1.1 Background of the Research
The current advancements in the educational institutes have transformed the quality
parameter of the educational resources. The advanced method of classroom training is quite
opportunistic for the students to improve their knowledge (Ali & Male, 2016). Maldives
Government has currently achieved access to the basic education by expanding the primary-level
enrollment rapidly and improved the educational quality. However, Maxwell et al., (2015)
argued that that there is the limited access to the good quality tertiary, vocational, and secondary

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education across the atolls still persists. The high level of the unemployment rate is quite
recognisabble among the younger labor force, which is highlighting the lack of qualified and
skilled workforce skills. However, currently, the Ministry of Education is mostly concentrating
on the betterment of the quality in the secondary, tertiary, and vocational levels (Gupta, 2017).
The regular reviews of the curriculums are quite helpful in this context to bring such
international practices in education.
1.2 Rationale of the Research
The research is mainly focusing on the current advancements brought to the educational
institutions to improve the quality of education in Maldives. It has been observed that currently
Maldives has captured the leading position in the tourism sector that contributes to the growing
economy of the country (El-Horr & Pande, 2016). The Ministry of Education is now focusing on
improving the educational quality to increase the employment rate of the qualified and skilled
workforce. However, it has been observed that the limited access to the vocational and secondary
training process and lack of teachers’ competency levels are the major barriers for improving the
educational background.
The issue mostly arises due to the lack of the continuous monitoring, regular reviews, and
adequate investments in the education. It is notified that both the training and teaching contents
are needed to the closely aligned with the projected skill requirements of the labor market. In
2014, the comprehensive teacher training and development program was started that is needed to
be continued till date even (Rasheed, 2015). It is noticeable that the lack of the higher secondary
school infrastructure is also creating the significant barriers to develop quality.

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The current advancements in the world seek the better knowledge of the workforce.
Maldives is one of the most visited tourism places in the world. The lack of proper infrastructure
for the education in universities and schools is still a major area of concern in Maldives.
However, recent approaches from government are quite useful for facilitating more advanced
methods in the educational field (Ibe.unesco.org. 2018). The improvement in the educational
quality is thus necessary for the population to develop highly improved work skills (Arain,
2017). The research would shed lights on such impacts occurred on the educational quality due
to the current advancements. The identification of the significant changes in the educational level
would help in identifying the impacts in a clarified manner.
1.3 Research Aim
The aim of the research is to identify the significant impacts of the current advancements
that are improving the educational quality in Maldives. The study also attempts to identify the
necessity of improving the educational quality for the future prospects.
1.4 Research Objectives
 To identify the requirements of developing educational quality in Maldives
 To investigate the impacts of the current advancements on improving educational quality
in Maldives
 To critically analyze the barriers of improving educational quality in Maldives
 To present the preferable recommendations to overcome these barriers

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1.4 Literature Limitations and areas of controversies
The ideas obtained from the literature section of the study would reflect on the
educational practices necessary for improving the quality. However, the lack of upgraded
information can be a considerable limitation in this context. Moreover, the time constraint is
another most significant barrier of this study. It is noticeable that the ministry of education is
contributing to the better opportunities in educational field to improve the quality of education.
However, the majority of the controversies arise in identifying the availability of the specific
resources. In spite of the initiatives undertaken by the educational ministry, the question is still
pointing out on the facilities and infrastructure to implement the improvement plans. However,
the argumentative discussion would be presented in the further section of the study.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
H0: Current advancements in the educational field does not impact on improving the education
quality
H1: Current advancements in the educational field impacts on improving the education quality
2.0 Literature Review
The literature review provides the underlying theoretical evaluation of the subject matter.
In this section of the study, the contextual and theoretical analysis of the subject would be
presented. The study provides the insights of the current advancements that are impacting on the
educational quality in Maldives (Hasan & McDonald, 2015). The literature would provide the
enriched ideas about the procedures of developing educational quality and developing the skills

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and competency level of the workforce for the betterment of future. The argumentative
discussion would also be presented in this section of the study.
2.1 Quality improvement in Education
At the higher education level, the improvement of the quality parameter depends on the
higher competency level of the teachers and the adequate supports and resources for the students.
According to Adam and Wright (2014), improvement of the educational quality is essential for
the youth to develop a better future ahead. Quality improvement in educational field holds a
significant approach to develop the knowledge for the future developments. It has been observed
that the considerable consensus is identified around the basic dimensions of educational quality.
It generally includes:
 Learners who are well-nourished and ready to participate in the learning programs
 The safe, healthy, and supportive environment is necessary to develop the education
quality (Hasan & Hynds, 2014).
 Relevant contents and materials for acquiring literacy and basic skills for knowledge are
required.
 The appropriate process through which the skilled and trained teachers would teach the
innovative method of classroom learning with the skillful assessment.
 The fruitful outcomes that encompass the skills, knowledge, and attitudes are aligned to
the national education goals for positive participation in society.
Apparently, education is conceptualized as a complex system embedded in cultural, political,
and economic context. However, the use of the advanced ideas can bring the changes and reduce
the complexity level to develop the high quality education for the people (Zlatkin-

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Troitschanskaia, Shavelson & Kuhn, 2015). For example, Maldives Government has currently
achieved access to the basic education by expanding the primary-level enrollment rapidly and
improved the educational quality. On the other hand, National University of Maldives is also
developing the classroom learning with the advanced method of education (Brown et al., 2017).
The governmental supports and access to these educational resources are thus necessary. Most of
the unemployment takes place due to the lack of qualified work forces.
2.2 Theoretical Conceptualization of Quality Improvement in Education
The quality improvement in the higher education level is defined in multiple ways. The
concentration on the theoretical analysis, it has been observed that quality of the education
depends on the learning parameter of the students. Supporting such statement Yamada, Fujikawa
& Pangeni (2015) defined that the development of the educational quality highly depends on the
adequate resources and supports. However, Di Biase (2018) argued that academic staffs are more
concerned about the resources for improving educational quality than the performance of the
individuals. In order to improve the educational quality, it is essential to assess the learning
parameter and monitor the skill improvement process on a regular basis. However, it is also
essential to align the necessary resources required for bringing innovations to the classroom
learning techniques. On the other hand, Tay (2015) explained that the improper coordination can
become the major obstruction and it requires establishing the specific institutional goals. The
further researches on this context develop the ideas about the classifications, which are as
follows:
 First is ‘transcendent quality’, which implies the result of expertise and reputation of the
academic staffs (Ali & Male, 2016).

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 Second is ‘manufacturing based quality’, which is accepted as the service that conforms
to specifications and used in a manner for which it was designed (Carrington et al., 2017).
 Third is ‘product based quality’, which is improved by the increasing level of the students
programs and the associations of the academic staffs.
 Fourth is ‘value based quality’, which depends on the acceptable performance at an
affordable price (Meierkord, 2017).
 Fifth is ‘user based quality’ that depends on the needs, wants and preferences of the
students.
The classifications off these conceptual ideas determine the necessity of the adequate
supports and resources for developing the higher quality education. However, the role of the
government is much significant in this context. Selby & Kagawa (2018) commented that the high
standardized education is possible if the government gains access to the necessary resources for
the education. The country would be developed in educational aspects by maintaining the
standards, which would contribute to the high employment rate in future. Opposing such
statement, Bray, Kwo and Jokić (2016) implied that the improvement in the educational quality
is necessary for the population to develop highly improved work skills. Without the appropriate
infrastructure, it would be quite difficult.
2.3 Factors affecting quality in education
The education quality depends on the both the teachers and the learners. The extensive
competency skills of the teachers are necessary. In majority of the cases, it has been observed
that the quality of education is hampered due to following reasons.

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 The lack of teachers’ efficiency in treating students can discourage them to improve their
learning practices. The lack of adequate knowledge is the major determinants in
improving the education quality (Ali & Male, 2016).
 The lack of the proper teacher training center is also another major obstacle in improving
the educational quality. If the teachers receive the proper training for the higher education
courses or programs with the advanced methods of education, it would be beneficial for
them to improve their efficiency (Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia, Shavelson & Kuhn, 2015).
The lack of training thus can create the obligation in improving the educational quality.
 The lack of adequate resources is quite a significant factor that affects the quality
improvement in education. The classroom learning is currently influenced by greater
advancements and digital technologies. The lack of adequate resources would thus
prevent the students from learning these advancements that can improve their education
quality.
 The lack of support from Ministry of Education or the Government is a major factor that
affects the educational quality. Government plays a major role in adjusting the
educational policies and implementing the advanced techniques in education. If the
government do not support the educational institutes with all these necessary
requirements, it would be quite difficult to bring improvements in the education quality.
Therefore, it is essential to pay attention towards the necessary factors for improving the
educational quality. However, it is also noticed that the current advancements in the digital
classrooms and technologies have brought much changes in the educational process. Especially,
in the developing countries like Maldives, these advancements are required to be supported by
the government. The high qualified labor would be skilled enough to perform the business