President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to address long-standing issues faced by Maldivian students studying overseas, including delays in fund deposits and lack of responsiveness from the Ministry of Higher Education.
Speaking during a luncheon with students studying in the UK, President Muizzu said that many students on scholarships and loans have faced disruptions due to tuition fee payment delays. He assured students that efforts are already underway to streamline the process.
Having spent 12 years in the UK pursuing higher education from a degree to a PhD, President Muizzu said he personally understood the challenges caused by delayed funding.
“There are problems within the system. We will hopefully improve it and make it efficient. We will hopefully respond quickly and deposit the money on time,” he said.
He said that the most frequent complaint he received was the Ministry’s failure to respond to emails from students.
President Muizzu has committed to resolving this issue to ensure timely communication and support.
During the meeting, President Muizzu also announced the reinstatement of No. 9 Rosemont Avenue, London as the official premises of the Maldivian Students’ Association–UK (MSA-UK).
The property, which served as a vital student hub, was repurposed in 2019 for diplomatic use by the High Commission. It is now once again registered under the student association for accommodation and activities.
The President, who previously chaired MSA-UK in 2007, said the property played an important role in supporting Maldivian students during his time as a student.
In addition, the government has resumed financial assistance to MSA-UK, allocating GBP 2,000 annually for its operations.
The funds for this year have already been deposited into the association’s account at Bank of Maldives.