With the beginning of the pandemic, the suffering ofinternational students also began, as students had to return to their nativecountries and attend online classes even after paying fees of face-to-faceeducation. It was understood that for students safety classes had to be online.At that point in time, Australia promised its International students that assoon as it is safe for them to return, Australian borders will be reopened.
Now, it’s been a year since Australian borders are closedfor temporary migrants. Students are frustrated about the restrictions. Facedwith uncertain future international students and temporary graduate visaholders are still stranded in India even after paying full-time fees forface-to-face education. Australia has refused entry to students even afterproviding visas and accepting 40-50 lakhs of fees.
According to the latest data, 164,485 student visa holderswere outside Australia since January 2021 and of these 12,740 were from India.Around 1,20,000 new students who were enrolled and given visas are now strandedin India.
These frustrated students are blaming the Scott Morrisongovernment for forgery and making education a business. Students who spentmillions and dreamt of living in Australia are now forced by the Morrisongovernment to study online in the name of the pandemic.
A peaceful protest was staged by the Indian Australianstudents at Jantar Mantar in India’s National Capital for the same. On March22, a protest was held on the matter in which international students gatheredto protest against the Australian government's draconian border restrictions.
The temporary migrants are demanding the Australiangovernment lift the travel ban and ensure their return. ‘We are giving them ahuge amount for online studies, that’s not justified. We want justice. Canada,U.S, and UK governments have already opened the border for internationalstudents. Whereas Scott Morrison government is not even giving any deadline tolift up the restrictions.’
‘The government should clearly signal students about thepresent situation. We are ready to change our study institutes, the governmenthas to return our embassy fees and other expenditure’ another student added.Students are blaming the Australian government of cheating on students byaccepting such huge fees and still not allowing students to enter.
On the matter, immigration minister Alex Hawke said, thatthe country is preparing to open its international borders in line with thevaccine rollout but stopped short of providing a timeline. He said that oncethe borders are opened, international students and tourists will be givenpriority. ‘We have learned one thing out of COVID, and that is we absolutelymiss the visitors to our economy and temporary visa holders. We want them backas soon as possible,’ Alex said.