Zahiya Zareer

Zahiya Zareer, Dhivehi: ޒާހިޔާ ޒަރީރު (born 30 December 1959) is a Maldivian politician and former teacher; she is Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Maldives and was formerly High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, after held two ministerial government offices.

Her Excellency

Zahiya Zareer
ޒާހިޔާ ޒަރީރު
Zareer in 2017
Born30 December 1959
NationalityMaldivian
OccupationAmbassador-at-Large
Years active1983 - present

Career

Zareer began work in 1983, working for the Maldivian government.[1] Her first role was as an English language teacher, from which she worked to become the Minister of Education from 2005 to 2008.[1] From 2004 to 2005 she held the post of Minister of Gender, Family Development & Social Security.[1][2] During her time as Minister for Education, almost half of Maldivian teachers went on strike.[3] She also established Teacher Resource Centres, which were designed to enable a greater number of teachers to access professional development for child-centred active learning.[4]

On 13 February 2014, Zareer was appointed by President Abdulla Yameen as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.[5][6] She presented her credentials to the President of Sri Lanka in June 2014.[7] During her time in Sri Lanka, the Maldives declared its withdrawal from the Commonwealth.[8] As a result of this move, Zareer's title changed to Ambassador.[9] During her time in Sri Lanka, she was involved in a diplomatic dispute after a 'bomb plot suspect' was expelled from the country.[10] On 13 August 2017, the Maldivian government dismissed her from the post.[9] She was then appointed Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Maldives.[1]

Zareer is also an expert in Divehi.[11]

Personal life

Zareer is married and has one son and one daughter; her hobbies include reading, writing poetry and gardening.[12] Her father was a cabinet minister and her mother worked at the Department of Women’s Affairs.[12]

References
  1. "Ambassador at Large Zahiya Zareer shares main lessons from her career - MFA". foreign.gov.mv. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  2. The statesman's yearbook 2006 : the politics, cultures and economies of the world. Turner, Barry, 1937-. New York. p. 1107. ISBN 978-0-230-27134-0. OCLC 971891473.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "Maldives teachers strike over pay". 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  4. "Teacher resource centres launched in the Maldives". UNICEF. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  5. "Home Page - The President's Office". www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  6. "High Commissioner Zahiya Zareer meets with the CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce – High Commission of Maldives, Colombo". Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  7. "New high commissioners and ambassadors present credentials to the President". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  8. "Maldives leaves Commonwealth amid democracy row". BBC News. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  9. "Govt to dismiss Maldivian ambassador to Sri Lanka". The Edition. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  10. "Expulsion of 'bomb plot suspect' from Sri Lanka sparks diplomatic row". Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  11. Mohamed, Naseema. (1999). Divehi writing systems. National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research (Maldives). Male': National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research. ISBN 99915-71-91-4. OCLC 50912959.
  12. JAYAWARDANA, Ruwini. "Thumb through leisure". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
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