Maldives Lights Up Red: Following Through on Inclusive Education Commitment

Malé, November 2025

In a vibrant display of commitment to inclusive education, students in the Maldives recently participated in the global Go Red for Dyslexia campaign, taking a bold step forward in raising awareness about Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and demonstrating the nation's dedication to building more inclusive learning environments.

This initiative follows the Maldives' active participation in COL-CEMCA’s Pre-Conference Workshop on “Designing a Teacher Competency Framework for Inclusive Education in Schools,” held on 9 September 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana. At that workshop, high-level representatives from Maldives joined counterparts from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Malaysia to co-develop a regional teacher competency framework for inclusive education, with particular focus on children with specific learning disabilities.

The Go Red for Dyslexia campaign, observed globally during October (Dyslexia Awareness Month), aims to transform the colour red from a symbol of correction and mistakes into one of pride, awareness, and celebration of the diverse strengths that individuals with dyslexia and other learning differences bring to society. By engaging students directly in this campaign, Maldives is not only raising awareness but also actively working to reduce stigma and build a supportive educational ecosystem.

“No student should be left behind,” emphasised Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, during the Gaborone workshop. “

Maldives' swift action in conducting the Go Red campaign exemplifies this commitment at the national level, translating regional dialogue into grassroots awareness and action.

The Go Red campaign originated in India under the stewardship of the ChangeInkk Foundation. In October 2024, India conducted a landmark ‘#Act4Dyslexia’ campaign featuring the Walk4Dyslexia on October 27, where over 300 participants walked from Vijay Chowk to India Gate, and iconic monuments including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, and India Gate were illuminated in red. With over 1,600 walks across the country and more than 400,000 participants, India’s campaign demonstrated the power of large-scale mobilization for dyslexia awareness. Echoing this success, Maldives launched their own Go Red initiative, creating a ripple effect of awareness across Commonwealth South Asian countries.

The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from students who wore red and took part in a range of activities to promote understanding of dyslexia and learning disabilities. This visible demonstration of support helps foster acceptance and awareness, laying the groundwork for effective implementation of the Teacher Competency Framework for Inclusive Education currently being developed through Commonwealth collaboration.

As Commonwealth South Asian countries continue to strengthen cooperation on inclusive education, the Maldives’ Go Red campaign stands out as an inspiring example of how regional partnerships can translate into local action, turning policy dialogue into grassroots advocacy and student engagement.