Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan has stated that the state has to bear the losses when students do not return to serve the country after studying abroad. He made the remark at the departure workshop held for recipients of the President's Scholarship and High Achievers' Scholarship.
At the event, Minister Hassan met with the recipients of the scholarships and advised them to make good use of the opportunity to study abroad. He called on them to not forget their heritage as Muslims and Maldivians and to behave accordingly. He also said studying abroad is an opportunity to meet and strengthen relationships with students from other countries. He added that time spent away from one’s own country is also an opportunity for students to grow as individuals and become responsible as a worker.
Additionally, Minister Hassan urged them to serve the country regardless of their education, adding that the entire country suffers even if a single student does not return after completing their education. He explained that the reason is that the state spends a large amount of funds to provide the opportunity for students to study abroad.
The President's Scholarship and High Achievers' Scholarship have been conferred to 155 recipients in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level examinations in 2022. A total of 17 students were awarded President's Scholarship and 138 students were awarded the High Achievers' Scholarship during a special ceremony. The aim of the scholarships is to encourage students to study and achieve good results in the higher secondary level examinations. The scholarships also offer the opportunity to study in any field internationally.