TELS and Toppers to continue - AG

Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has reassured people that despite the situation the country is facing with the current COVID-19 outbreak, programmes that are important to youths, such as the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and Toppers initiatives, would continue.

16,661 students are currently studying under the TELS program while 2,525 students are studying under the National Toppers Scheme.

In the 2020-2021 National Budget, the Government allocated $35.5 million for the Toppers Scheme while $161.1 million was set aside for the TELS program.

In this financial year, a major change was made to the TELS program where the Government increased the threshold for qualifying for TELS from 200 to 250 marks.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar stated last year this was done to encourage students to work harder and increase the quality of education.

Akbar has also previously stated that the National Toppers Scheme has always addressed areas of need and this will continue however these will be subjected to revision depending on the COVID-19 situation and how it develops both locally and internationally.