Late Bedtimes Linked to Drop in Attendance, IUM Study Finds

A new study by the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) has found that students in grades 9 and 10 who go to bed well past midnight are significantly more likely to miss school. 

The research, which surveyed pupils in several islands including the capital Male’, Kaafu Atoll, Alifu Alifu Atoll and Haa Dhaalu Atoll, identified a cluster of health‑related and academic issues tied to late‑night schedules.

Speaking at an awards ceremony hosted at the Dhaalu Atoll Education Centre, Assistant Professor Dr Aminath Shafiya, Dean of the Centre for Research and Publications, expressed deep concern over the findings. 

“How long do you think, the kids in grades 9 and 10 sleep? Please think about it. Bedtime is 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. I’m not talking about adults. I’m talking about kids your age,” she said, underscoring the startling prevalence of extremely late bed times among the cohort.

The study revealed that the main reasons for non‑attendance included chronic sleep deprivation, stomach upset, mood swings and morning headaches. Additionally, students reported that insufficient rest compromised their classroom participation, increased dissatisfaction with teachers, and made homework assignments noticeably harder. 

“Lack of sleep, less sleep and attendance in class, dissatisfaction with teachers and difficulty in doing homework – all these factors are interrelated,” she noted.

While the Dean declined to release further statistical details, she stressed that the patterns observed call for immediate intervention by parents, educators and health professionals. 

In her address, she also outlined a set of recommendations for students aspiring to succeed, urging them to prioritise proper sleep, maintain a balanced diet, and engage actively with teachers. She urged the young audience to use their intelligence and learn from the guidance of the Holy Prophet, highlighting the crucial role that smart, reflective thinking plays in academic achievement.