Maldives awards Zakat scholarships for higher education after seven-year gap
Nineteen students receive scholarships in Islamic studies as part of program supporting education at home and abroad
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives has revived its Zakat Scholarship program after a seven-year hiatus, awarding nineteen students funding to pursue higher education both domestically and overseas.
The scholarships, funded through the country’s Zakat system, were presented at a ceremony in the capital, where recipients received certificates for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Islamic fields.
Officials said this marks the largest number of students ever awarded Zakat-funded scholarships for Islamic studies in a single year.
This year’s program is being implemented in two rounds. In the first round, 17 students received full scholarships for higher education in Islamic disciplines, while an additional seven students were awarded special scholarships. More recipients will be announced in the second round.
The Zakat Fund, which finances the program, plays a broader role beyond education, offering assistance to underprivileged communities. It covers medical expenses for procedures such as kidney, liver, and bone marrow transplants when public insurance schemes fall short.
The fund has also been central in supporting families unable to afford healthcare and other essential needs.
Authorities say reforms are under way to modernize the Zakat system and bring it closer to international best practices. A new legislative framework is expected to formalize and expand its operations, allowing Zakat institutions in the Maldives to align with wider developments across the Islamic world.
Advocates of the reform argue that a strengthened Zakat system could provide a model for other Muslim-majority countries seeking to expand social welfare through faith-based mechanisms.
The scholarship program is designed to widen access to higher education. Fifty opportunities were announced this year, including 20 for study within the Maldives and 30 abroad.
Partner countries for foreign study include Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and several South Asian states. Of these, 17 placements were offered specifically for Malaysia and Brunei, both longstanding centers of Islamic scholarship.
The last time the Zakat Fund awarded scholarships was in 2018, before the program was paused. Its revival reflects efforts to expand the role of zakat in education, healthcare, and social support, placing the Maldives within a broader global movement to strengthen Islamic charitable systems as tools of development.
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