Free first degree program spent MVR 9 million on former graduates

More than MVR 9 million has been spent under the government-funded undergraduate education scheme for 271 former graduates, according to the Auditor General’s Office’s annual performance audit report.

The report states that an audit conducted from February 1, 2019 to December 31, 2024 found that MVR 9,365,475 was spent on 271 students who had already completed their first degrees, contrary to the objectives of the scheme.

Under the rules of the First Degree Scheme, only individuals who have not obtained a first degree or higher qualification in the Maldives or abroad are eligible to study under the program.

However, the audit found that there was no centralized mechanism to verify whether applicants were previous graduates, and no clear process to ensure such checks were carried out in coordination with the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA). The responsibility for this verification was not adequately defined within any agency.

From 2019 to 2024, a total of 19,265 applications were received for the scheme, of which 85 percent, or 16,388 students, were selected. During this period, the State spent MVR 835,697,911 on the scheme, averaging MVR 139,282,985 per year.

Despite this expenditure, the audit revealed that the government did not maintain records of how many students completed their programs and obtained their first degrees.

The report further noted that there is no adequate system to monitor students’ academic progress or maintain information on those who do not complete their programs, defer their studies, or transfer between centres. As a result, MVR 19,091,797 was spent on 790 students who did not complete their programs.

The audit also highlighted that students’ personal expenses have increased despite studying under the scheme. The proportion of programs requiring students to spend more than MVR 60,000 from their own pockets rose from 15 percent to 46 percent.

To address these issues, the Audit Office recommended establishing a robust central system to monitor student learning in coordination with teaching centres, and to recover funds from students who dropped out without completing their programs.

The office also urged the government to review the scheme’s rules and operations to ensure long-term sustainability and to maximize the benefits students receive from the state budget.

The First Degree Scheme is a government-sponsored initiative that provides tuition-free undergraduate education to Maldivian students. Eligibility criteria include Maldivian citizenship, not having previously obtained a bachelor’s degree, and enrollment in an MQA-recognized Level-7 program.