Maldives extends loan aid to 52 pilot students in Spain

Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed, Minister for Higher Education, announced on Tuesday that 52 out of 127 Maldivian pilot students studying in Spain have received a loan extension. 

This decision addresses persistent challenges faced by these students, including visa difficulties, escalating costs, insufficient stipends, and course durations exceeding initial loan periods.

The issue gained prominence in February when students pursuing aviation in Barcelona penned a letter to the minister, detailing their financial and logistical struggles. In response, Minister Haidar held a virtual meeting with the students in May.

Further highlighting the severity of the situation, Mohamed Ibrahim, MDP MP from Galolhu North Constituency, sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla on July 21. Ibrahim stated that the government's failure to resolve these issues and delays in loan disbursements had resulted in some students being expelled from their courses. Subsequently, Minister Haidar was summoned to the Parliamentary Petitions Committee.

During Tuesday's committee meeting, in response to a question from Mohamed Shameez, PNC MP from Madaveli constituency, Minister Haidar affirmed that he had engaged with both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the students' concerns. He revealed that on June 23, he submitted a proposal to the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate discussions and find solutions to the visa crisis in consultation with Spanish authorities.

Under this initiative, arrangements have been made to transmit student information to the Maldivian High Commission in New Delhi via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, enabling visa applications to the Spanish Embassy. 

“... Students are advised to make an appointment through the website of BLS International, a Spanish visa service provider, to apply for a Spanish visa. We have been informed by the Ministry of External Affairs that this was done as the Embassy did not have the right to make visa appointments outside the online appointment system under the agreement between the Spanish government and BLS”, Haidar said.

To improve communication, a dedicated WhatsApp number has been established for direct contact between the ministry and students in Spain.

Regarding student loans, Minister Haidar stated that the Ministry of Finance advised addressing the financial crisis through formulated procedures rather than direct monetary aid. He disclosed that 127 students are currently pursuing pilot licenses in Spain, with each license costing MVR 2,065,000. Of these, 72 students applied for the top-up loan scheme this year, and 52 were selected to receive the additional funding.

The maximum top-up loan amount is MVR 700,000, and 20 students were deemed ineligible this time.

Dr. Abdul Raheem Hassan, Minister of State for Higher Education, explained at the committee meeting that loans are disbursed in installments based on the educational institution's fee schedule. He stated that loans to students in Spain have been issued in three parts, with an initial substantial amount covering tuition and living expenses.

He further elaborated on the disbursement process: "We release funds every six months, and once every six months, we check whether the child is studying there. The school has to inform the Higher Education Ministry that the child is still an active student." 

Loans will not be disbursed to students whose active enrollment cannot be verified, he said.

Abdul Raheem confirmed that loans had been issued to students in Barcelona, and the current increase addresses the dissatisfaction of some students with the initial loan amounts. This marks the third year the ministry has issued top-up loans. He assured that students will not incur any interest on these top-up loans, and the largest loans are issued for a 20-year period. However, he stressed that funds would not be released even if students are selected for a top-up loan, unless they submit documentation verifying course costs and remaining duration.

Acknowledging communication challenges, Minister Haidar announced the forthcoming introduction of a mobile application before October to facilitate student complaints, as the inability to contact the ministry has become a significant concern amidst efforts to assist students studying abroad with state support.