President’s Scholarship again opened to all fields after rapid rule reversal

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu attends the 'Top Achievers' Award 2022-2023' ceremony, September 12, 2024. (Photo/President's Office)

The Ministry of Higher Education in the Maldives recently executed a swift reversal of a policy that had restricted the Presidential Scholarship to specific fields outlined in the Training Needs Requirement List. Originally announced on a Sunday night, the restrictive measure was removed less than twenty-four hours later, on Monday night. This adjustment returns the program to its previous state, allowing scholarship recipients to pursue any academic field of their choosing. The decision has sparked a broader conversation regarding the appropriate balance between state-driven human capital development and the importance of fostering individual academic interests among high-achieving students.

The Ministry of Higher Education reversed a restrictive policy on the Presidential Scholarship within 24 hours.
The new ruling restores the ability for scholarship recipients to study any field they desire.
Eligibility for the scholarship remains tied to achieving first-class results in higher secondary exams.
Changes were also made to the High Achievers Scholarship, now requiring at least one A* at A-Level.
The policy change triggered public and political debate concerning equitable opportunities for students.

Less than a day after the Higher Education Ministry restricted the Presidential Scholarship to fields listed in the national Training Needs Requirement List, the rule has been revised again, restoring the option for students to study in any field of their choice.

The ministry issued the initial amendment late Sunday night, stating that the Presidential Scholarship would only be awarded for fields included in the Training Needs Requirement List.

However, at 11:24 pm Monday, the ministry gazetted a revised version of the regulation, removing the restriction.

Under the updated rule, students who receive the Presidential Scholarship may pursue any field they wish.

The scholarship will be awarded to students who achieve first‑class results in higher secondary examinations, defined as:

A* in three A‑Level subjects, or
A* in all subjects required by the Education Ministry in the student’s chosen stream in the Shahadha Secondary School examination, along Dhivehi language

The ministry also amended the criteria for the High Achievers Scholarship, which will now be awarded to students who obtain at least one A* at A‑Level.

Former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali expressed concern over the earlier changes to the High Achievers Scholarship, calling them unfair and urging a review to ensure equal opportunities for all students. While some stakeholders echoed her concerns, others defended the ministry’s decision on social media.

By Azhaar Abdul Azeez

Writer