THE government has urged MPs to reconsider proposed amendments to the 2005 Education Law to grant the Education Ministry exclusive authority over all scholarship and study assistance programmes – both public and private.
While acknowledging that the draft law was aimed to better co-ordinate scholarship allocations, enhance the quality of education and align specialisations with national development priorities, the government pointed out that existing legislations and decisions already achieve these goals.
A memo highlighted Prime Ministerial Resolution No. (20) of 2011, which designates the ministry as the sole authority responsible for approving and supervising government-sponsored scholarships.
It prohibits ministries and public entities from independently announcing or managing scholarship programmes without the ministry’s involvement. It also obliges companies with majority government ownership to seek the ministry’s approval for scholarships linked to their economic activities.
Additionally, a Cabinet decision in June 2013 extended similar requirements to private entities, mandating ministry approval for all non-governmental scholarship initiatives.
The government further noted that the Civil Service Commission’s Resolution No. (21) of 2021 regulates study scholarships for public employees, adding another layer of governance over academic funding initiatives.
Beyond the legal framework, the ministry already conducts annual planning for scholarship allocations based on labour market studies, governmental consultation, and student interest. The aim is to promote modern and in-demand specialisations while avoiding oversaturation in certain fields.
“Given this comprehensive regulatory structure and the ministry’s current oversight role, the proposed legal amendment does not introduce new value and could be seen as duplicating existing efforts,” the memorandum stated.
The government stressed that legislative amendments should be reserved for addressing clear regulatory gaps, not reiterating existing practices.
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