Ameen says gov’t will no longer provide pilot study loans, Haidar maintains silence

Minister of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed has deflected questions in the People’s Majlis regarding Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen's recent statements about the government no longer providing student loans for pilot studying, saying it was not related to the topic at hand.

Recently, Minister Ameen stated that newly trained pilots or cadet pilots are no longer needed in the Maldives. Ameen made these comments during a program broadcast on the “Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu”.

Minister Ameen said that there are many more people studying to become pilots than the number of jobs being created. He also mentioned that this is an issue faced by other countries besides the Maldives.

Ameen further noted that he does not anticipate the introduction of any new pilot training opportunities under the current administration.

At Monday’s sitting of the People’s Majlis, MP for Hanimaadhoo constituency Abdul Ghafoor Moosa inquired Minister Haidar regarding Ameen’s statements, asking whether this was not an infringement by Ameen on Haidar's mandate. He also sought information regarding this matter.

However, Haidar noted that it was an unrelated question and refused to answer it. The higher education minister was summoned to the parliament on Monday to answer inquiries linked to minimum wage.

While Ameen has stated that the current government will no longer provide loans for pilot training, the government has not disclosed whether they have discussed this matter or made such a decision. However, the issue of providing loans falls under Haidar's mandate.