Gov’t Grants Loans to Over 1,000 Students

The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has announced that student loans have been awarded to 1,015 eligible applicants under the student loan scheme.

Initially, the scheme was set to accommodate 500 slots, but Higher Education Minister Dr. Mariyam Mariya later revealed that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had decided to extend loans to all eligible applicants. Consequently, the ministry received 1,709 applications, of which 1,153 students qualified for the loan scheme this year.

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At a press conference today, Minister Mariya confirmed that 1,015 students had been selected so far. The Ministry of Higher Education has released the list of loan recipients, noting that while the names on the pilot licence slots are provisional, the results for all other slots are permanent. The selected students will receive their sponsorship letters on Thursday.

Minister Mariya also addressed multiple complaints regarding limited loan opportunities for student pilots. She explained that out of 148 eligible applicants, only 10 student pilots were granted loans this year, and they will train at the aviation school in Addu. 

She noted that there are over 500 Maldivians with a pilot’s licence who are unable to secure employment, prompting the government to cap loan opportunities in aviation and redirect focus towards other fields.

The ministry has announced that the opportunity to submit complaints regarding the student loans will remain open until 25 June.