Govt begins overseas scholarship payments on pres directive
Students highlighted delays in stipend disbursement, tuition payments, and the lack of timely responses to email queries.
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The Ministry of Higher Education has confirmed that the government is proceeding with the disbursement of tuition fees and stipends to Maldivian students studying abroad under government-funded scholarship schemes, following instructions issued by President Mohamed Muizzu.
Speaking on the Rayyithunna Eku podcast on the 10th of this month, President Muizzu stated that he had prioritised the release of payments for overseas students ahead of other government expenditures, including oil and staple food-related transactions. He said he had instructed the Ministry of Finance to ensure the timely release of funds for tuition and stipends.
Senior Political Director at the Ministry of Higher Education, Hussain Sham, told Atoll Times on Tuesday that the process of distributing the pending payments is currently ongoing.
“The pending items have been sent to finance. Payments will be processed every day,” Sham said.
He also noted that the ministry is closely monitoring matters related to student loans, stipends, and tuition fees.
The Ministry of Finance has also confirmed that arrangements are being made to resolve the financial issues affecting students, in line with the President’s directive. According to the ministry, this matter has been treated as a top priority.
A student who had previously voiced concern regarding delays in receiving payments has confirmed that the funds have now been deposited into their account.
During his podcast, President Muizzu referred to concerns raised by Maldivian students during his recent visit to the United Kingdom. The students highlighted delays in stipend disbursement, tuition payments, and the lack of timely responses to email queries.
The President stated that steps have been taken to address the issues, including the introduction of new communication channels. Each country where scholarship recipients are based will be assigned a dedicated WhatsApp business number, with staff designated to manage student inquiries.
Responsibility for this initiative has been handed over to the Minister of Higher Education. The ministry is currently recruiting personnel to support communication with students abroad via WhatsApp.
