9,430 youths provided higher education under free degree programme

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih revealed that the government has provided 9,340 youth with the opportunity to pursue higher education under the free first degree programme.

President Solih made the announcement while delivering his third Presidential Address to parliament on Thursday morning, stating that his administration's development strategy was to empower a generation of educated youth with the will and conviction to further develop the nation. He added that one of his administrations first undertakings had been to provide better opportunities for education to youth, through which the higher education loan scheme had been established along with the free first degree programme.

President Solih went on to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to educating the youth, noting that the government had not discontinued issuing higher education loans despite the economic downturn experienced by the nation this past year.

President Solih went on to note that a special category of higher education loans was now being issued to those with disabilities, and stated that it was critical for national development to provide equitable, indiscriminate opportunities to all.

Further, President Solih added that despite the difficulties presented by Covid-19, the government had chosen to conduct online classes for college and university students as educating the youth was a top-priority. He went on to acknowledge the invaluable efforts made by students and parents in pursuing education as the capital city went into lockdown last year, and offered his sincere thanks to all those that had supported the government’s efforts to educate the nation's youth during the pandemic.