A report from the Auditor General has shown that the government's free degree program has seen an expenditure of MVR 835 million over the last six years but the number of graduates is uncertain.
According to statistics from the Audit Office, the Education Ministry received 19,265 applications for a government-funded degree from 2019 to 2024 and saw 16,388 applicants being chosen for the scheme, which is 85 percent of applicants.
The highest expenditure for the scheme was seen in 2022 and 2023, which was MVR 163 million for each year. In the five years since the scheme was started, the scheme has seen an expenditure increase year after year. The expenditure for the scheme saw a slight decline in 2024.
Expenditure details for the first degree
- 2019: MVR 85 million
- 2020: MVR 133 million
- 2021: MVR 141 million
- 2022: MVR 163 million
- 2023: MVR 163 million
- 2024: MVR 150 million
The audit calculations show that it is difficult to gauge the success of the program due to the lack of a system that monitors how many students have graduated from the free degree scheme. Even though MVR 19 million was spent on 790 students in the scheme and even if they did not graduate, the Audit Office stated that the Education Ministry did not make an effort to recover the funds.
The Audit Office said as there is no system to check the number of graduates, it is clear that there was an expense of MVR 9.4 million for 271 graduates who finished early so they can finish their course, which is against the purpose of the program.
As per the report, even if there were students pursuing their education under the scheme, the fee change to the program resulted in student expenditure year after year. MVR 60,000 was spent out of students' own pockets, which is a program fee increase from 15 percent to 46 percent.
The Audit Office went on to say that as there is no record of the number of graduates from the scheme, and they have not been recognized for their service to the country.
While such a scheme is ongoing, the audit report also reads that there are major differences between the sectors Maldives is in need of and the sectors students are studying under the scheme. The audit report states the program needs to be structured so that the industries that are most important to Maldives are prioritized under the scheme. The report recommended the scheme be monitored more than it is now and to form a system where the number of graduates will be recognized.
