93. The national education system is currently a mix of traditional institutions (Edhuruge's, Kiyavaage's, Makthab's and Madhurasa's) and modern schools, although the former, traditional system is being slowly assimilated into the modern system. The primary education system is a five-year cycle which children enter at age 6. The sixth and seventh year is the Middle School and is part of the seven-year extended basic education, which defines the minimum educational attainment for all children by the year 2000.

95. Schooling is provided free in the government schools (although there are also private institutions) and, whilst it is not compulsory in law, children are encouraged to attend school until the age of 16, and more than 95 per cent of primary-school-aged children are enrolled in a school. […]

27. Legal minimum ages established for specific purposes include:
The Law on the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Law No. 9/91) prohibits any child who is below 16 years being employed, for gain, at a place where persons are employed for gain;

27. Legal minimum ages established for specific purposes include:
There is an unwritten rule that marriage before the age of 15 should be prohibited and, under Law 9/91, section 21, parents are advised to discourage marriage before the age of 16. Early marriages continue to occur in Maldives, particularly in the outlying atolls;

27. Legal minimum ages established for specific purposes include:
Regarding criminal liability, Maldivian law regards a person over 15 years as criminally responsible. Children under 15 are not charged with offences, unless the offence is murder, use and trafficking of drugs, major theft and fornication or religious offences;

103. Presidential decree No. 67/90 directs government authorities not to charge persons under 15 years of age for offences, stating that "small children" (up to 15 years) will suffer from psychological problems if they are prosecuted, taken to court and punished. […]

104. However there are exceptions, related to the commission of very serious crime, which in Maldivian law includes homicide, adultery, drug abuse and major theft. Every child, over the age of 7 years, who commits one of these offences is prosecuted and faces court proceedings and punishment. Presidential decree 67/90 instructs that such cases be closed appropriately by such authorities, by house arrest, so far as it is permitted by law.

105. Robbery, disloyalty and stealing also attract special attention, under Ministry of Justice Circular 4/88 (6.4.88), and children under 16 years of age face prosecution and punishment for these crimes. Punishment is dictated as house arrest for a period of not more than one year.