Oz to revamp edu sector; India vows crackdown on rouge agents

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Aug 8 (PTI) India Saturday said it will be
"ruthless" in dealing with rogue agents duping youngsters
pursuing studies here, as Australia announced a revamp of its
scam-tainted international education sector and assured safety
of Indian students facing racially-motivated attacks.

The Indian government will go after unscrupulous
education agents in the country as part of its efforts to
control the student crisis, India's External Affairs Minister
S M Krishna told reporters here.

"We will be ruthless" with the fake agents who paint a
rosy picture and take gullible students for a ride, Krishna,
who is on a five-day visit to Australia, said when asked what
measures India will be taking to tackle the issue.

A spate of recent attacks on Indian students and
unearthing of several scams have battered Australia's USD 15.5
billion international education sector.

Krishna, the first senior Indian leader to visit
Australia after the crisis erupted, discussed both the issues
in detail with the top Australian leadership, which assured
him of protecting the Indian student community.

Amid reports that a number of migration and education
agents were "duping" foreign students including Indians,
Australia Saturday also announced sweeping changes to resolve
problems in accreditation, role of recruitment agents and
curriculum.

The revamp plan included a review of the legislation
governing education services for overseas students, focusing
on four main areas -- the welfare of students, quality of
services, regulation and the sustainability of the industry.

Announcing the measures, Australia's Deputy Prime
Minister Julia Gillard, who is also the education minister,
said former Liberal MP Bruce Baird will head the government
review into the sector, the nation's third largest export
industry, and recommend steps to set it right.

Krishna also said the India government is ready to work
with Australia in areas that need joint supervision "such as
regulating education or immigration agents in India."

On the attacks on Indian students, the External Affairs
Minister said he did not think all the assaults were racist.

Krishna, who met with the Indian community members,
including some of the students who were subjected to racial
attacks, said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his counterpart
Stephen Smith had Friday assured him that the well-being
and security of Indians will be taken care of.

He said the main objective of his trip was to get
first-hand information about the situation and to talk to
students and Indian community about their concerns.

"Australian authorities have been responsive to our
concerns on the well-being and security of students," he told
a gathering of Indian community members. "We appreciate the
fact that they have stepped up police patrolling in the
problematic areas and have taken several other measures to
deal with the safety issue."

Krishna said the bilateral relationship is set to grow
all around while the student issue needed to be dealt with in
a "sensitive manner".

"The well-being of Indians overseas and especially of
students, is a top priority for the government. We have been
concerned by the recent attacks on our students as well as the
other issues that they are facing," he said.

"The two task forces that have been set up, by PM Rudd
and Deputy PM Julia Gillard, with which our High Commission
has been in close contact, are examining various issues that
relate to the well-being of international students, including
Indians," he said.

"PM (Rudd) and FM (Smith) have assured me that they are
looking into all these issues and will put measures into place
to resolve them," he said adding, the Australian Prime
Minister has promised to look into student issue personally.

The Minister also said specially-designated student
welfare officers will be available in Indian High Commission
and Consulates in Australia who will focus on issues related
to Indian students. Every Friday, any Indian student can walk
in without prior appointment to discuss their problems.

"The Authorities have assured that they will look into
the issue of colleges being closed and the regulation of
school and colleges that will take on board the suggestions of
Indian students and the Indian community in the work of their
taskforce," he said.

He also hailed contribution of the Indian community in
Australia which has been "building bridges of friendship"
between the two countries. The community has an important role
in resolving various issues, he added. PTI NC
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