Student denied graduation over "bad luck" despite paying fees

Students scheduled to graduate on October 31 after completing their degrees have expressed deep concern after being informed they are no longer eligible to graduate due to an eleventh-hour policy change.

Expressing concern over the situation during an interview on RaajjeTV’s "Fashaairu" program, a student revealed that after having already paid the graduation fees for the 2025 class and incurring various other related expenses, the college contacted them on September 5th advising against making any further expenditures for the graduation ceremony.

The student reported that the college informed them that the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) had refused to validate their certificate. The student noted that under the policy in effect at the time, their teaching degree should have been recognized, as they had already completed all first-year degree modules during their diploma, satisfying the required credit hours. However, the student stated that their previously granted advanced standing was not approved, and the college is now instructing them to repeat the course. Furthermore, the student highlighted that all these communications were conducted verbally.

Furthermore, the student stated that they had visited the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) to share their concerns regarding the matter.

Four of us visited the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) and were able to meet directly with the CEO that day. During our meeting, we pointed out that out of the eight students in our class facing this issue, three had already received approval. In response, he stated that those students were simply lucky, while we were not.

Student

The student stated that even the CEO of the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) was unable to provide a reason for the graduation being blocked. According to the student, the MQA claimed that the justification had been communicated directly to the college and that, as a student of the institution, the information could not be disclosed to them directly.

The college maintains that they have made extensive efforts and held numerous meetings regarding our request for documentation. They claim to have worked tirelessly on the matter and expressed confusion as to why approval was granted to one group of students while being withheld from others. Regardless of the current situation, it is clear that advanced standing is a permitted practice; many students have successfully obtained it in the past and are currently employed with full accreditation.

Student

Consequently, the student stated that the college does not believe the issue lies with the approval of the advanced standing. Furthermore, the student noted it remains unclear whether the error was made by the college or the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA).

Furthermore, the student stated that they had once again questioned the CEO of the MQA regarding the justification for granting approval to only a segment of the students, despite the entire group having completed the same modules within the same class since the diploma level.

He was unable to provide a direct answer, stating only that every student is unique. While I accept that every student’s situation is different, our next step was to return to the college. We requested written documentation explaining why our approvals were denied, as the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) would have officially notified the college of such decisions. However, the college maintains that they received a single collective notice covering all students. Consequently, they informed us that they are unable to issue individual letters to each student.

Student

The student further noted that the issue previously raised was a separate matter.

We have completed our degree program. In a teaching course, this naturally includes a teaching practicum (TP). While we finished all other academic modules by September 2025, the teaching practicum is typically facilitated by the Ministry of Education through the colleges. However, we were unable to secure a placement within the designated timeframe. Consequently, we had to arrange our own practicums by personally contacting schools and submitting formal requests to principals.

Student

The student previously stated that completing the teaching practicum by June this year would have allowed for graduation. However, they noted that this opportunity was not granted.

Furthermore, the student stated that the university's reasoning was unacceptable, noting that the group of students denied the opportunity to graduate included an individual who had already completed their teaching practicum during the course of their studies.

"Through our subsequent inquiries, we have learned that we were denied this opportunity due to a change in policy. Upon reviewing the policy, we found that the guidelines cited by the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) were formulated in 2023, whereas our batch commenced studies in 2022. Furthermore, this policy was published in June 2024, by which time 98 percent of our course had already been completed, and we were preparing for our final sixth-semester examinations."

Student

The student stated that during a meeting with a State Minister at the Ministry of Education regarding the matter, they were informed that the new policy would not be applicable to them.

Consequently, the student questioned the inconsistency, asking why some students had received approval while others had not.