Ministry of Higher Education has revealed over 13,000 students have been enrolled in the free degree programme launched by the administration three years ago.
The programme to facilitate students to acquire their bachelor’s degrees locally free of charge was initiated by the administration on February 14, 2019. As per the statistics of the higher education ministry, 13,284 students have been enrolled in the programme in the past three years. This includes 2,127 students who have completed their degrees.
Speaking on the occasion of the third anniversary of the free degree programme, Higher Education Minister Dr. Ibrahim Hassan said the aim of the programme is to build an educated and capable generation of people to lead the future of the nation. The minister stated the opportunity to attain a free degree was especially crucial amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with so many people struggling financially due to the pandemic. As such, he said the free degree programme provided a resolution to many social issues.
As part of the efforts to promote higher education and training, the government is also providing student loans every year. In addition, junior colleges and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres are being developed in the atolls, to facilitate more opportunities for youth across the nation.