Biography
Fathimath Shakeela is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Maldives National University with over 20 years of experience in mathematics education, teacher education, curriculum development, and educational research. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Higher Education from the University of Oslo, Norway, and a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics and Statistics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She has served in several academic leadership roles, including Head of Department for Mathematics Education, and has contributed significantly to programme development, curriculum review, quality assurance, and institutional research initiatives. Her professional interests include mathematics teaching and learning, particularly the development of early number sense and mathematical fluency, differentiated instruction, and the preparation of effective mathematics teachers. She is committed to enhancing mathematics education through evidence-based pedagogical practices and research-informed teacher education.
Areas of Interest:
Mathematics Education
Early Number Sense Development
Mathematical Fluency
Teacher Education and Professional Development
Curriculum Design and Development
Differentiated Instruction
Assessment and Evaluation in Mathematics
Educational Policy and Practice
Higher Education Research
Teaching Interests:
Mathematics Teaching Methods
Early Mathematics Learning
Number Sense and Mathematical Fluency
Secondary Mathematics Education
Curriculum Studies
Educational Research Methods
Action Research
Pedagogy and Professional Practice
Current Research Interests:
Early Number Sense Development
Mathematical Fluency and Proficiency
Effective Pedagogies for Mathematics Learning
Differentiated Instruction in Mathematics Education
Mathematics Teacher Education and Professional Learning
Assessment Practices in Mathematics Education
Improving Student Learning Outcomes in Mathematics
Research Projects:
Gender and School Processes (2011) – Commonwealth-funded study examining gender dynamics in Maldivian schools.
Higher Education Financing Study (2011) – Research on student funding mechanisms and access to higher education in the Maldives.
MNU Institutional SWOT Analysis (2011) – Contributed to an institutional strategic evaluation conducted with a Fulbright Specialist.
Master of Philosophy Research (2010) – Viability of a Student Loan Scheme in the Maldives.
