Minister: Delay in disbursement of student stipend due to incomplete info

Higher Education Minister Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed on Wednesday acknowledged “delays sometimes” in disbursement of financial aid to Maldivian students overseas, but said that the delays were often because the ministry is not provided all information it needs to process disbursements.

There has been mounting concern among Maldivian students overseas over delays in the disbursement of financial aid they are entitled to by the state, specifically stipend and tuition fees, as well as delays in response to letters and emails sent by students inquiring about the delay.

This issue was raised at the Parliament by Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan Marzooq who asked Haidar for an explanation regarding the issue.

Haidar’s response to the query was read out at the parliamentary sitting on Wednesday.

Haidar told the Parliament that he acknowledges that there are delays sometimes in disbursement of financial aid, but said that such delays are because the Higher Education Ministry doesn’t get all the information it needs to process disbursements because of delays in getting the necessary documents from the students themselves or their universities.

He said that scholarship students are provided two months’ stipend and other financial aid in US dollars if they notify the Higher Education Ministry with ample time left before they fly out.

He said that the stipend is deposited to the account registered to the students’ name in a bank in the country where they are studying.

Haidar said that stipend money is deposited on a biannual basis, with each deposit made once educational institutions notify the ministry. He said that there are somethings delays on the university-side in making the necessary notification.

He said that delays in disbursements are also caused by the failure of students to provide all necessary information required regarding their bank account.

The situation is the same when it comes to disbursement of tuition fee, he said.

Haidar said that students have now been provided an information sheet regarding all the bank information they need to disclose in order to address this issue.

“The tuition fee for scholarship students is deposited once the ministry receives the tuition fee invoice from their university. Therefore, if there is a delay in getting this invoice, there is also a delay in depositing the money,” he said.

Haidar said the ministry is working on creating schedules for tuition fees so that the ministry can work on getting the required invoices in a more systematic manner.

Haidar also said that student loan disbursements are made once students submit a document proving they are taking part in their course. He said that some students sent a document regarding the start of their course rather that a document proving that they are taking part in the course.

He said that this requirement is in place to prevent the disbursement of money to individuals who are not actually attending classes.

The Higher Education Ministry has also faced concern over delays in response to letters and emails, with some overseas students claiming that responses to their queries sometimes take up to three months.

In response to questions over this delay, Haidar said that ministry sections in charge of students enrolled in courses under student loan schemes, scholarships and the free bachelor’s degree program receive over 600 emails per day.

Haidar said that the ministry is working on cutting down the response time to three days.

Haidar added that the ministry is also working on creating a portal to manage student information. He said that the portal is expected to go live in October – which will make the process easier for both students and the ministry.