Student loans have been approved for 479 applicants to pursue pilot training, the higher education ministry revealed on Thursday.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced on Wednesday night that student loans have been approved for 1225 applicants who met the criteria.
Briefing the press at the president's office with further details, higher education minister Dr Ibrahim Hassan said loans have been approved for 479 students to become pilots, including top-up loans to 24 students who were awarded loans in a previous round.
"This is a record figure. An extraordinary positive change will come to the country's aviation industry as a result of this decision by the president. The public will enjoy its benefits in various ways," he said.
The student loan scheme offers opportunities for higher education in six areas of aviation.
"One secret of this government providing opportunities for human resource development is to ensure a better future tomorrow, not for a better future today. That is why we are providing so many opportunities for human resource development. It is not today but tomorrow that you would see various positive changes in the aviation sector when these pilots return after training," the minister said.
Applications for the loan scheme were invited on February 15 and 1507 applications were submitted by the deadline in March. While 720 loans were offered at the time, the president announced that 1225 loans would be disbursed.
