Maldives editors no longer required to be graduates

Editors in the Maldives no longer have to be degree holders, following changes to regulations from the home ministry Sunday.

The amendment states that news editors and journal editors are required to have a degree in their field or seven years of experience.

The original regulation, circulated in January, said editors needed to be Maldivian, aged 25 and above, have a degree in journalism or a related field in addition to five years experience at a ministry-registered media organisation.

The overall education status of the population at graduate level is very low, according to official figures. The 2014 census said that just 483 resident Maldivians had a degree.

Media outlets expressed concern about the new regulations at the time.

The Maldives Media Council met with home ministry officials and local media reported that they lodged a case with the Attorney General’s Office to have the case heard in court over the changes.