Debate over true visionary behind free degrees

Six years after the government-sponsored free degree scheme was launched, controversy erupted in the Maldives' social media scene over who should be credited for the project.

While some said former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took credit for its vision and success, others had differing opinions.

According to Solih, by the end of his administration, 18,000 students were studying and 8,500 had completed studies under the scheme which was introduced as presidential pledge following his campaign.

"On this day, 6 years ago, we launched our Free Degree Scheme opening up the avenue for students to pursue higher studies for free - one of my proudest achievements as President," he wrote in a post on X yesterday afternoon.

However, Solih's post was not accepted by the former President Mohamed Nasheed, who was also a previous President of MDP. As a response, he shared a video of MDP's 2018 manifesto being launched, via his unofficial X account MN Unofficial.

The "Vaudhunaamaa [pledge list] 2018" manifesto was announced while Nasheed was abroad after he won the MDP presidential ticket. In the manifesto, Nasheed included a free degree scheme as a policy.

“The opportunity to study for free up to [a bachelor's] degree [level] should be open to every Maldivian citizen wherever they are,” Nasheed said while announcing the manifesto.

Former Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde) who worked on Nasheed's manifesto in 2018 said in a post on X that the free degree scheme was Nasheed's pledge.

"Before [it was] free medical treatment, this time free degree should be included, now that much tax comes in directly, President Nasheed said. We are writing," Waheed said in X with a photo of Nasheed noting his points.

Former STO Managing Director Hussain Amr, who was very involved in writing the manifesto and recently rejoined the MDP, also said in a post on X that Nasheed's manifesto is the "blueprint of good governance."

At the time, Nasheed had announced his candidacy and even started campaigns when it was confirmed that he would not be able to contest in the elections. All opposition parties then banded together and Solih was given the ticket.

Although Solih's manifesto was a coalition manifesto, MDP's policies contributed large to it.