The Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) was formed in 1983. The Unit which started with 2 full time Curriculum Developers and one part time CD, has 26 full time CDs in 2005.

From its inception until the year 2000, the unit focused only Primary Education and Middle School Education (now there is no middle school from Grades 1-7, it is Primary). From 2000 onwards, the unit has been working in the development of some secondary material, too. And in Dhivehi & Islam Studies (Islam) work has been carried out even for the Higher Secondary grades.

The Main task of CDU is to design and formulate a curriculum that is in concord with the National Philosophy of Education, and which caters to the needs of Maldivian students going through formal education. To facilitate this task the CDU has the following responsibilities.

 To design & formulate the National Curriculum
 To bring in the needed changes to the curriculum and revise it.
 To construct various subject syllabi in accordance with the goals prescribed in the National Curriculum and publicise the syllabi.
 To produce textbooks and other learning materials (such as audio visual aids, to implement the curriculum and revise the materials as required.
 To monitor and carry on research on the implementation of the curriculum and to publicise the findings of the research.
 To help those who implement the curriculum (such as school heads, teachers, etc)
 To help develop the overall education of the country.