Ms. Nicola Van Der Venne, a former teacher educator who served in the Maldives under the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) programme, paid a courtesy visit to The Maldives National University (MNU) Library and the Faculty of Education today.

Ms. Van Der Venne worked at the Institute for Teacher Education (ITE) in Malé from September 1992 to August 1994, serving as a full-time teacher educator for two years. During her tenure, she was actively involved in the Primary School Teacher Training Programme, contributing to the preparation and professional development of prospective primary school teachers in the Maldives.

Her primary responsibility was teaching English Language to students enrolled in the primary teacher training programme. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she was an active member of the Institute’s academic staff, participating in the educational activities and institutional life of ITE during an important period in the development of teacher education in the Maldives.

Her visit to MNU provided an opportunity to reconnect with the institution where she had served more than three decades ago and to reflect on her experiences and contributions to teacher education in the country.

The Institute for Teacher Education was one of the predecessor institutions that contributed to the development of higher education in the Maldives and subsequently became part of the institutional foundations of The Maldives National University.

The visit also served as a reminder of the valuable contributions made by international volunteer educators who supported the development of teacher education and helped strengthen the country’s educational capacity during its formative years.

MNU Library and the Faculty of Education were pleased to welcome Ms. Van Der Venne and acknowledge her contributions to the development of teacher education in the Maldives.