Applications Open for High Achievement Scholarship and President’s Award
Applications open for 2025 high achievement scholarship | Photo: The President’s Office
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development has opened applications for the 2025 High Achievement Scholarship and the President’s Award.
The ministry stated that applications will remain open until September next year and can be submitted through the Kuri portal.
The Higher Education Ministry revised the High Achievement Scholarship criteria last month, introducing new eligibility requirements for students completing higher secondary education. Under the updated rules, students who obtain at least one A grade at A-Level will qualify for the scholarship scheme.
The revised criteria state that students must achieve an A grade in three A-Level or equivalent subjects, as well as an A in at least one of five specified subjects, including HSC Islam and Dhivehi. Students are also required to secure a minimum A grade in the remaining four subjects.
The new rules also affect students from Arabiyya School. Previously, students completing higher secondary studies in the Shahada stream qualified for the scholarship if they achieved an A pass in all subjects within the stream. Under the revised criteria, Arabiyya students must now obtain an A grade in one of the subjects specified by the ministry, including HSC Dhivehi, in addition to A grades in the remaining subjects.
According to the ministry, the scholarship will also be awarded to students who achieve A grades in five subjects, including HSC Dhivehi and Islam at A-Level, together with a pass above C in O-Level English.
The ministry had initially limited eligibility for the President’s Scholarship to fields listed in the national Training Needs Requirement List. However, the rule was later amended following public criticism, allowing students to pursue studies in any field.
Former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali criticised the changes, stating in a Facebook post that the revised criteria were unfair and undermined the rights of students who achieve high marks in their stream subjects.
