Gov’t Reveals MVR 695 Million Spent on Free Degree Programme
The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has disclosed that MVR 695 million (USD 45 million) has been spent over the last five years on the free degree programme introduced by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The figures were released in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by a member of the public, Afrah Ismail.
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The statistics indicate that from 2019 to 26 February 2024, the government funded the education of 20,337 students through this programme. Payments were issued to two universities and nine colleges under the scheme.
Villa College received the largest amount, with MVR 172.8 million (USD 11.2 million) allocated for 4,522 students. The Maldives National University followed, receiving MVR 138.8 million (USD 9 million) for 4,504 students. MI Colleges were allocated MVR 106.2 million (USD 6.9 million) for 2,842 students.
The free degree programme allows first-time degree seekers to study at the government’s expense.
Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau alleged today that the programme was run as a large-scale scam. He claimed that the prices of the courses covered under the free degree programme had been reduced to 60 percent in return for providing a subsidy.
According to Shujau, this caused financial losses to colleges, leading some to shut down. He emphasised the importance of empowering private colleges to retain foreign currency within the country and claimed that the government prioritises this.
The main opposition MDP’s parliamentary group refuted these allegations, describing the programme as crucially linked to the future of the nation’s youth. MDP’s Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir stressed during a parliamentary group press conference that the free degree scheme involved no scams and appealed for its continuation. Zakir highlighted that over 10,000 students currently enrolled under the scheme are still completing their education.
