Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has expressed concern over the previous government's decision to offer a large number of scholarships for pilot training.
At a press conference, Minister Ameen said the previous government last year offered more 450 scholarships to those who wished to obtain a pilot license. He claimed that the decision was made without forethought and for political purposes.
Additionally, Minister Ameen noted that there are about 70 cadet pilots who have still not found employment in the Maldives. He also said that more than 200 students were studying piloting when the scholarship opportunity opened, adding that it could become a national issue in the future if such an opportunity is opened to a large number of students at once. He emphasised that scholarships should be awarded based on what fields are in demand in the country or fields where job opportunities are available.
Furthermore, Minister Ameen said that only the national airline Maldivian and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) offer employment opportunities to cadet pilots in the Maldives. The two companies create an average of about 30 jobs. He highlighted that in his long history of aviation, he was not aware of any country that has given a job to a cadet pilot. He clarified that every country has a huge backlog of unemployed cadet pilots, adding that every country prioritises its own citizens.
Moreover, Minister Ameen noted that Maldivian students who opted for pilot training are high achievers, which is not good from a human resource perspective. He said that he will work with the higher education ministry on providing the relevant information to the scholarship recipients and their parents. He assured that the government has no intention of revoking their scholarship, but the opportunity should be offered to those who wish to change their field of study.