Go
To Index
Page
Australia
cracks down on education providers after attacks on Indian students
Melbourne:
Australia has forced a nationwide quality crackdown on education and training
providers, to shore up the reputation of the country's 15.5 billion dollars education
export industry, after its reputation was damaged in the wake of protests against
attacks on Indian students. Education Minister Julia Gillard also announced another
taskforce, as it ratchets up its response to the attacks that have attracted international
news coverage and sparked street protests. The Ministerial Council on Education,
Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in Hobart today agreed to urgently carry
out targeted audits of education and training providers. It follows Victoria's
earlier move to launch a "rapid audit" of providers suspected to being in breach
of regulations, The Australian reported. The crackdown is expected to largely
target those small private education providers that have been the target of complaints
from students. About two-thirds of the 97,035 Indian students in Australia last
year were enrolled at private providers. Gillard also announced the creation of
a telephone hotline for students to anonymously raise concerns that will be collated
and published on a website, www.studyinaustralia.gov.au. The hotline number is
1300 363 079. "Ministers have joined together to unreservedly condemn the violent
incidents and problems that international students have experienced in Australia
in recent times," Gillard told reporters. "There is no tolerance for violence,
no tolerance at all for any of the things we've seen happen, particularly in Victoria
and NSW, in recent days. "We are going to do everything we can to send a message
to international students that they are welcome here," she added.
