60% of student loans unpaid, minister says

Minister of Higher Education Dr Ali Haider said on Tuesday that around 60% of students who have received state-funded loans have not begun repayment.

The minister made the remarks while responding to questions raised in Parliament by Galolhu South MP Mohamed Ibrahim regarding the current status of the student loan scheme.

Fuvahmulah South PNC MP Ibrahim Hussain inquired about the total expenditure on student loans and the extent to which recipients are repaying them. Minister Haider stated that from January to last month, a total of MVR 157 million had been disbursed through the scheme.

“There are significant issues in loan repayment,” the minister said. “Only around 40% of recipients are making repayments. Approximately 60% have not begun repaying their loans. This is money owed to the state, and a decision on this matter will be taken soon. We have started working on that.”

This year, the government opened applications for 500 new student loans at the end of March. The deadline for submissions expired last month.

Hulhumalé South MP Ahmed Shamheed asked how many students applied for the 2025 loan scheme, whether all eligible applicants would receive loans, and whether the government intended to exclude eligible candidates due to limitations.

In response, Minister Haider stated that 1,351 students had applied under this year’s scheme. He said that loan recipients are selected on merit. Last year, the government also offered 500 loans and approved funding for all qualified applicants.

“Therefore, I believe the government’s policy this year will also be to award loans to all eligible candidates. However, a final decision has not yet been made,” he added.