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Higher Education Min to increase loan aid outside capital

Mariyam Malsa
27 August 2020, MVT 19:36
The Minister of Higher Education along with other top ministry representatives during Wednesday's committee session. PHOTO: PARLIAMENT
Mariyam Malsa
27 August 2020, MVT 19:36

Minister of Higher Education Dr Ibrahim Hassan, on Wednesday, revealed that efforts were underway to increase the financial assistance provided to students based outside capital city Male', as a measure to support decentralisation.

The minister made the assertion at the Parliamentary Committee on National Development And Heritage, in response to a question posed by MP for Hoarafushi constituency in Haa Alif Atoll, Ahmed Saleem.

According to Dr Hassan, the 2020 higher education loan scheme allocated a slot for each of the 87 constituencies represented in the parliament.

The minister stated that, despite loans being granted outside the capital previously, the majority of these students did not return to seek employment in their native islands upon completion of their education. Making note of the situation, he went on to reassure that the ministry was currently working to formulate a policy to address the aforementioned concern.

With the exception of regional allocations, the minister highlighted that a number of financial support opportunities remained open to students from across the country, in order to ensure support for fields flagged as important, under a recently conducted training-needs analysis.

Furthermore, Dr Hassan also asserted that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's decision to approve the issuance of 514 higher education loans served to emphasize the level of priority accorded by the government to education.

In addition to addressing concerns voiced by the committee members, representatives from the higher education ministry also deliberated with the parliamentarians on the possibility of amending the loan scheme and allot a placement for every inhabited island instead of constituencies.

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