Student loan disbursements won't be delayed if all docs submitted: Minister

There will be no delay in disbursing funds for student loans if the required documents are submitted, higher education minister Ibrahim Hassan said on Thursday.

Minister Ibrahim Hassan attended a press conference held at the President's Office on Thursday to brief media on the loan opportunities opened by the government this year.

Complaints of delay in getting loans for students have been repeatedly received by many students. Some of the students express their concern that this is causing a lot of problems and adversely affecting their studies.

Replying to a question by Atoll Times on whether students who get student loans this year will be assured that they will get their loan money without delay, the minister said the processing of loan money will begin only after all the documents in the list are submitted.

The minister said that the ministry has taken cognizance of many cases where complaints are filed about delay in receipt of loan money and the funds are not disbursed due to lack of documentation.

"Many a times, when it is close to making the payment to the university many students are reminded that they have to deal with loan," he said, adding that the students who have completed the documents will be able to arrange for the money.

Ibrahim Hassan noted that the Ministry of Finance is also providing special priority to the students to overcome the difficulties in receiving funds.

"So, in order to process their payments, I assure all the students that there will be no delay in payment if the student submits the required documents," he said.

Applications for 720 student loan opportunities announced by the government this year were opened Wednesday. Thus: