Student loan payments delayed, leaving students feeling helpless

The significant delays by the Ministry of Higher Education in arranging documentation and payments for students who qualified for the student loans announced by the government this year have left students worried and helpless.

While the government initially announced only 500 slots for student loans this year, they later decided to give out loans to all 1,709 students who submitted qualifying applications. These include students newly joining their respective higher education programmes as well as those who initially self-funded their studies and now require loan assistance to continue.

However, with September/October intakes already commenced, many students are yet to receive their documentation and funds to proceed with their studies.

Despite these claims, the Ministry assures that they are issuing payments to the students.

Speaking with local media outlet Mihaaru, a Maldivian student who initially self-funded their studies in Malaysia and later applied and qualified for the student loan said that the Ministry has still not responded to their submission of the required documents to proceed with payments.

"The form, which according to the regulations should have been provided within two weeks, was sent after a month. Even though [I] submitted all the required documents within three days, I received no response even after a month. I received no acknowledgement letter. Otherwise how would I know if the information I provided was correct or not; whether I need to provide additional documents. They didn't notify me at all," the student said.

"I was left in limbo. I sent about 12 emails to the email address on the website, but didn't get any response," they added

The student further explained that since they were abroad and unable to directly call the Ministry's number, their relatives had also tried to contact the Ministry on their behalf.

Even after about 70 calls, the Ministry still remained non-responsive, the student explained.

The student, now back in Maldives on holiday, finally went to the Ministry themselves, only to find out their emails were not even opened.

"I paid one year's course fees on my own. Now I have no way to pay the rest of my fees. All my savings are gone. That's why I applied for the loan," they said.

"My visa is expiring next month. I explained all of this to them and asked to give me a duration so that I'd know whether to take out a personal loan or to discontinue my studies. Or whether I should wait here, or go back to renew my visa. But they're unable to even tell me when they'd be able to give my loan," the student said.

Students like this, who initially self-fund and switch over to loan funding stand to lose a lot when the Ministry delays their payments. This is because the continuation of their studies gets delayed when the funds do not come through on time.

When asked, the Ministry said they are unaware that students are returning due to issues with their loans. The Ministry also assured that they are working on arranging the loans.

"We are working on the fee sheet, agreement and payment for the students selected for the student loan. Funds will always be released to the loan students. That will never stop," an official of the Ministry said.

Another student who spoke with The Edition is also in a similar situation. They submitted all required documents in April to continue their studies, and are still waiting to receive their agreement and sponsor letter.

Unfortunately for this student, they have now missed their September intake and have to hope that the Ministry processes their payments by January intake.

Despite the Ministry's assurances, students are facing difficulties in making arrangements for their studies, with some even going for studies on their own expenses. However, students who require their sponsor letters are unable to take this route as well. Some students have even reported having received final notices from their universities for failing to make timely payments.