Education During the period of Kings and Sultans

From the period of King Soorudasaruna-Adeettiya (Exiled prince and son of King Sri Brahamaadittiya of the Kalinga Kingdom of India ) to King Bovana Aananda and from King Koimala (1117-1141AD) who first ruled the whole Maldive Islands, to Sultan Muhammad Imaaduddeen VI (1893-1902 AD) the educational policy of Maldives did not show much changes. The policy was that only those who belonged to the royal family and ruling council shall educate themselves. Moreover , education was not a major concern of the people at that time. Even those in the royal family only needed power. Maldivian history reveals that very close relatives and husbands were assassinated by those who succeeded them.
Hajji Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta .(February 25, 1304–1368 or 1369), was a Moroccan Berber Islamic scholar and traveler who is known for the account of his travels and excursions called the Rihla who wrote a great deal about Maldives. As Maldives was lacking the expertise of a person who had learned the religion properly as a judge, he had to stay in Maldives for nine months during his travels. He was half kidnapped and half bribed, by marrying him into royal family by Sultan Omar I.Further , he married many women in Maldives. Though he was a foreigner and visitor he was appointed as Qazi or Chief Judge as there was no one else fit for the post.His presence in Maldives would have provided some extent of religious and Arabic education to Maldivians.
Citizens of Maldives during that period were simple people who were quite content when they could get a good catch of fish and if they can feed their families two times a day. Maximum education they needed was enough to attend prayers according to Islam. “Dus kiyun” a term used during that time for learning 10 surah’s from the Noble Quran was a sign of becoming a privileged person as everybody would respect such a person. In most islands those people would lead the prayers.
The main source of education which existed during the period of sultans were ‘eduruge’ or house where one person who had learned very basic religious education would teach to perform prayers and recite just very short few surah’s from the Noble Quran. As a matter of fact even this opportunity was mainly enjoyed by the privileged. Moreover , most such opportunities were only available in Male’ the capital city.