Student Loans Will Be Offered To All Eligible Applicants, Says President

On Wednesday night, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the administration’s decision to extend student loans to all qualified applicants who have submitted their loan applications. He made the remarks while speaking at the ‘Top Achievers’ Award 2021-2022’ ceremony held last night at Dharubaaruge.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President emphasized the tremendous advancements made in 2023 to the administration’s loan allocation process. He noted that his administration greatly prioritizes on providing higher education opportunities in an effort to foster the development of responsible and productive citizens and particularly youth for the betterment of the nation.

President Solih stated that 1225 students met the eligibility criteria for the loan scheme this time around and said that the administration intends to extend loan offers to all of the applicants. He added that if an eligible student is unable to secure a student loan, the administration would thoroughly investigate the situation and take necessary measures to ensure that all students can enjoy the benefits of the student loan programme.

On a different note, the President reflected on the administration’s commitment to provide skills development opportunities to youth and recognized its potential in aiding national development. Speaking on this, President Solih reiterated that the administration’s initiatives to empower youth by equipping them with essential capabilities will help contribute to the active growth of their communities and the overall progress of the nation. In this regard, he added that the National Apprenticeship Programme has now facilitated 665 opportunities for young people.

Shedding light on the outstanding achievements of students who completed their higher secondary education examinations, the President congratulated them for their success despite the challenges faced by the Covid-19 pandemic. He stressed that their accomplishments serve as a renewed beacon of hope for the country's future and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to providing various other higher education opportunities to support the students' educational aspirations further.

During the ceremony held last night, the government honoured 445 students who attained various positions in the national top 10 rankings. Among them, 20 students achieved top 10 rankings in the global level across different subject areas while 6 students received first place in the world rankings.