Minister Haidar meets pilot students studying in Spain

Higher Education Minister Dr. Ali Haidar has met with Maldivian pilot students studying in Spain under the government loan scheme.

Higher Education Ministry, via a post on X on Thursday, said the Minister thoroughly listened to concerns and requests of the students during an online meeting held on Wednesday. According to the Ministry, during the meeting, the Minister assured students that the Ministry will undertake efforts to provide an acceptable solution to some of the concerns raised by the students.

Maldivian pilot students studying in Spain under the government loan scheme sent a letter to the Higher Education Ministry on February 22^nd, conveying their concerns.

This included difficulties faced by the students in obtaining visas and the lack of adequate stipend for expenses incurred for this as a result of which they are forced to spend from their pockets. They also conveyed difficulties faced by additional time required for the course, which exceeds the loan period.

They also said the USD 1,300 stipend provided by the government is insufficient to cover living expenses in Barcelona, where the minimum average cost of student accommodation is around USD 1,300, in addition to the increasing cost of food.

The students also underscored difficulties arising from the fact that funds under the loan are deposited to their account in Maldivian Rufiyaa.

The letter was sent by some 30 students following discussions among them. Back then, the students shared their concerns with Sun after the Ministry failed to reply to the letter a month since it had been sent. 

The students also stressed that Ministry had failed to reply to their requests seeking a meeting with Minister regarding their concerns.

Last month, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen said 200 pilots who studied abroad at significant expenses still remain unemployed.

As such, the government allocated only 10 slots for pilot training under its higher education loan scheme last year. The Higher Education Ministry defended the limited allocation, citing numerous complaints about the large loan amounts typically required for pilot training.