After passing HSC exams every year, many students fail to admit themselves in public universities locally, and in case of private universities, they have some inertia, rather become interested in pursuing higher studies abroad. Most of these students become interested to get admitted in foreign universities for admission in undergraduate program and after completing honors they are enrolled in postgraduate program. Since the websites of foreign universities are in English, the students cannot understand the admission procedures and pertinent information. Moreover, due to lack of previous experience, many students rush to various student consultancy firms in the country to seek advice and assistance in studying abroad.
Again, a considerable number of students studying in English medium educational institutions in the country have a dream of achieving higher degrees from overseas universities. But many of the students and their parents do not know about the admission process, tuition fees or other relevant issues regarding foreign universities. As a result, a large number of our students and parents easily fall into the trap of fraudulence. According to various media sources, about 50-60 thousand teachers and students from Bangladesh go to different countries for higher education every year. Undoubtedly, the news of various fraudulent incidents that took place in the name of student consultancy firms, with a view to sending students abroad for higher education in the last decade is alarming as they have also snatched around Tk 150 crore from students and their parents.
Students in our country are more likely to study in developed countries like USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Sweden and New Zealand. One of the reasons for this is that in all these countries, part-time employment can be managed to pay the tuition fees, and by capitalizing lucrative offers and waivers on tuition fees, many unscrupulous businessmen have set up business stalls all over the country including the capital Dhaka. These consultancy firms are taking Tk 30,000 to Tk 50,000 at the very outset in the name of opening the file by showing the temptation of giving part time job during their studies in developed countries without showing bank solvency. They even guarantee on admission into foreign universities though the students lack requisite score or band in TOEFL or IELTS. They are tempting our ordinary students mainly through glamorous advertisements.
Some so-called firms are taking large sum of money in advance on the pretext of visa processing fees. Although some of the students get the benefits, many cannot avail themselves of this opportunity. Even those who are going are not able to get admission in the expected educational institution as far as part time job is concerned as promised. Some are returning to the country in extreme danger or even being imprisoned in foreign jails. There are many institutions which are running coaching programs to have better score in TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT etc. in Dhaka and are processing visas for going abroad. Some institutions are there which are taking a lot of money by falsely assuring the students who failed to get the required grades or points in the examinations mentioned above.
In our country, after the establishment of private universities in the 90s, the tendency of students to study abroad has increased. Students from well off families are taking advantage of this opportunity by visiting various consultancy firms. Some firms are cheating by promising admission to world class universities abroad by showing various facilities. Some are being employed as representatives as part of their business promotional work and misleading ordinary students through them. In the name of affiliation of the country’s universities with good foreign ones, mainly the students of well-to-do families of private universities are being targeted. Since unemployment rate is increasing day by day in the country, the desire to go abroad for higher education is motivating the students to get admission in foreign universities. So it is very important to protect the students seeking admission in foreign universities. Sadly, our country does not have strict laws against those who are involved in fraudulence in the name of admission to higher education abroad.
Moreover, there is no separate department in the country to supervise the activities of student consultancy firms. They are operating business activities here and there only with a trade license or by forming a company as a consultant to study abroad. So many of the consultancy firms are getting through easily even after embezzling huge amount of money from ordinary students.
Many students from middle class families in our country are also interested in going abroad themselves from the contact of classmates of rich families next to them. Under the pressure of their children, many parents are being deceived by coming contact with these consultancy firms. Parents, sometimes, sell their lands and other properties to manage the expenses. In many cases they seek redress but are harassed by the owners of these firms.
In order to take advantage of weakness of the students willing to study abroad, the spurious consultancy firms usually extend their clutches to fulfill ill motives. Stern action should be taken by the law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Education and, above all, by the government before increasing their nefarious activities. We think, failure to ensure the punishment of phony consultancy firms under strict laws will increase their treachery and harm the students eager to go abroad for higher studies.
(Mr. Badrul is Assistant Professor, Department of English of Ishakha International University. E-mail: [email protected])
