The new academic year began today after a month-long break.

As the new academic year began in all schools in Maldives, the sessions have been shortened to three hours for the first three days due to bad weather.

According to official figures, more than 96,000 students are enrolled in schools across the country, including 40,300 girls and 42,700 boys.

About 83,000 students are enrolled in public schools out of which 17,000 go to public schools in Male' area.

There are 13,000 students studying in private schools from LKG to grade 12 across the country, of whom 9,000 are studying in schools in the Male' area.

Some 2,250 students started grade one in schools in Male' area while the number of new students in other grades in Male' area is 2,081.

According to the statistics, 1,126 students belonging to families that migrated to Male' from the atolls are enrolled in schools in Male' area.

Meanwhile, around 1,000 students changed schools in Male', including 124 students from private schools and 32 students from abroad who have joined public schools.

The Education Ministry said the new academic year started today with 12,662 teachers. These include 10,729 Maldivian teachers and 1,933 foreign teachers.

Around 162 public schools will have single session classes while 55 schools will have two sessions. The ministry said it will continue the satellite school concept in six schools this year.