Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed has said delays in the disbursement of scholarship and student loan funds are mainly caused by issues related to document and information verification.

Speaking on the Tharujamaanaa Eku podcast with the Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Heena Waleed, Minister Dr Haidar said ministry figures show that approximately 75 per cent of student funds are disbursed on time.

However, he acknowledged that some students have experienced delays of up to eight weeks. Dr Haidar said such cases are largely due to incomplete documentation submitted to the Ministry or discrepancies related to eligibility and the required funding amounts under existing rules.

“If we look at statistics from the past four years, more than 75 per cent of payments have been made on time,” he said. “Delays affecting some students, including delays of up to eight weeks, are mainly linked to problems in verifying documents and information.”

The Minister said verification is necessary to confirm that students are enrolled at the institutions stated and to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. He noted that delays often occur when bank details or other required information cannot be verified promptly.

Dr Haidar added that for more than 75 per cent of students, the required procedures are completed within two months prior to the scheduled disbursement date. He stressed that payments can only be processed once all banking and documentation requirements are fully met.

To address communication challenges, the Minister Dr Haidar said the Ministry has introduced WhatsApp contact numbers for countries hosting more than 50 Maldivian students. He also said a call centre has been established to provide additional support and assistance to students facing issues related to fund disbursement.