Audit finds only 50% of free degree students completed courses between 2019-2022

Between 2019 and 2022, 50 percent of students who started their first degree at government expense completed their courses, according to an audit report.

The Auditor General’s Office has released a performance audit on undergraduate education funded by the State.

Citing statistics from the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) and educational institutions, the audit said 11,641 students participated in the free degree scheme between 2019 and 2022. Of these, 5,833 students completed their courses, 50 percent of all participants.

According to the report, 18 percent of students are still enrolled, while 790 students have dropped out without completing their programs. The Audit Office said it could not determine the status of 2,779 students because their information was not available.

The audit noted that the program is considered complete once all payments due under the scheme have been disbursed to the student. However, it found that not all students who received full payments were likely to have completed their programs, as the ministry issues payments in advance for the upcoming six months or semester.

The report further stated that information on students who completed their programs, and those who did not, is not fully maintained, highlighting significant gaps in monitoring and record-keeping.