The newly launched Kuri Portal will address financial challenges faced by students and ensure faster disbursement of funds, Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed has said.

The Minister made the remarks while speaking at the launch of Kuri Portal on Tuesday. He said the portal introduces significant improvements for students and parents by streamlining administrative processes and reducing delays linked to scholarships, funding programmes and student loans.

Dr Ali Haidar said the Kuri system would speed up document processing, improve accuracy in agreements and disbursement schedules, and eliminate prolonged waiting periods that have affected students in the past. He said these changes would directly ease the financial burden faced by students and their families.

The Minister said artificial intelligence will be integrated into the portal to remove communication barriers and improve service delivery, making it easier for students to access information and complete required procedures.

He acknowledged that students have faced serious difficulties in accessing scholarships, higher education opportunities and education loans due to systemic weaknesses and delays. These challenges, he said, have disrupted learning and placed additional pressure on both students and parents.

Minister Dr Haidar said the Government aims to introduce permanent solutions to these longstanding issues, noting that the Kuri Portal represents a major step towards strengthening the higher education system. He described the platform as a responsible and convenient solution for students, parents and service providers.

The Minister said the system forms part of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s "Maldives 2.0" digitalisation initiative to modernise public institutions. He added that improving education services has been prioritised under the State budget, with a focus on delivering reliable and efficient support to students.

“The Government’s objective is to ensure that no student loses an educational opportunity due to administrative delays or financial constraints,” he said, adding that investments in systems such as the Kuri Portal reflect education’s priority at the national level.