Be selective and cautious

Updated on: Monday, July 12, 2010

Even as Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi urged Canberra to keep existing students out of the revised skills list that is set to become the mandate for visas and permanent residency to Australia, some 1500 Indian students could be affected and forced to return home.

Australia has been continuously tweaking its visa policy for students since a slew of racist attacks on the Indian student community hit the headlines late last year. Now slashing the existing Skilled Occupations List (SOL) from 400 skills to just 181 for vocational courses and jobs — prerequisites to acquire permanent resident status and student visas — would mean bad news for Indian students who are currently there.

Also affected by the new SOL are at least 5,000 other students. With the closure of 34 privately-run institutes that were asked to pull down their shutters by the Australian government on account of their not meeting the prescribed standards, Indian students found themselves out on a limb. More institutes are expected to follow suit.

So, if you are thinking of going to pursue your studies in Australia, you need to be careful while selecting an institute. Consider these facts: the state government in Victoria is currently auditing 41 privately-run educational colleges. The federal government has mandated that all institutions delivering to international students need to re-register by December 31, 2010, so that the government can ensure they meet the mandated standards.

Thus the need of the hour is to be selective and to check and recheck the credentials of the institute. The credentials of agents should be verified and every care should be taken before money is spent.

Be selective and cautious

More Education news