The emergency motion submitted by MP Nazil states that payment delays have caused distress for students abroad, preventing them from paying course fees and leading to warnings from colleges with some students facing difficulties to pay for their accommodation.
The emergency motion submitted by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in parliament, alleging that the government has stopped sending funds to students studying abroad at government expense, has been dismissed.
MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil submitted the motion, which only received 12 votes in favor, while 59 members voted against debating it.
Hence, the motion was not passed for debate.
In his motion, Nazil stated that the previous government under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had provided opportunities for more than 10,000 students to study abroad.
He said that the current government is delaying payments to students on government scholarships and loan schemes, with some students having stopped receiving funds altogether.
Nazil highlighted that this has caused significant distress for students abroad, preventing them from paying course fees and leading to warnings from colleges. Some students have also struggled to pay for their accommodation.
“These students are living abroad away from their families and have to seek help from various sources,” Nazil said, urging the Minister of Higher Education to deposit the funds immediately and called on the government for the same.
The government has not yet commented on the matter.
However, after the motion was dismissed, some members addressed the issue in parliament, stating that the government is making deposits and that any outstanding payments are dues left unpaid by the previous administration.
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