Maldives will reach true development when the people achieve their full academic potential, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

He made these remarks during his address at the awarding ceremony of the President's Award & High Achievers Scholarship for GCE A-level top achievers, held at the STELCO auditorium on Thursday.

Further, Solih said that the real objective of these scholarships will be achieved once students begin to contribute their newly earned knowledge for the development of the nation.

Shedding light on the changes in conferring the awards, Solih stated that these students previously had the opportunity to choose higher studies from a limited number of regions allocated by the government. However, he said that his administration will be bringing in a new policy that eliminates these restrictions.

Under the new policy, scholarship winners may choose any field to study from abroad, in any destination of their desire.

Solih also highlighted another change regarding High Achievers Scholarship, indicating that under the new policy, the government has removed the restriction of limited fields and countries to choose for higher studies.

As such, students may choose from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries when going for further studies, said the President, adding that with the new changes, High Achievers Holders will get the advantage of choosing from an additional 36 countries worldwide, including the United States, as well as European and Asian countries.

In addition, Solih said that these policy changes were brought for the benefit of the youth community in the country.

He further reminded students of their patriotic duty to the country and emphasized on their importance in developing the country.