Parliament Rejects Emergency Motion on Delayed Student Stipends

The ruling party’s parliamentary majority has rejected an emergency motion proposed by the opposition to address concerns regarding delays in stipend payments for Maldivian students studying abroad on government scholarships and loans.

Submitted by minority leader MP Ibrahim Nazil, the motion urged the government to promptly disburse payments to students studying overseas. Nazil highlighted reports of students facing warnings from universities for unpaid tuition fees and eviction notices from landlords due to overdue rent payments. He criticised the government for prioritising expenditure on renovations, international trips, and political salaries over essential educational support.

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The motion was swiftly dismissed with a vote of 59 to 12 in parliament.

Recent media coverage has highlighted the challenges faced by students abroad who are struggling to meet college fees, accommodation costs, and daily expenses due to delayed stipend payments.

Responding to the concerns, Minister of Higher Education, Skills Development, and Labour, Dr Mariyam Mariya, attributed the delays to a shortage of foreign currency reserves. She assured that efforts are underway to expedite payments to students in urgent need.

Meanwhile, government MPs asserted that payment processes have commenced and are ongoing to alleviate the financial strain on affected students.