October 23, 2022
TV Documentary Puts Scrutiny on Private-Public College Relationship in Canada
O Over-recruitment of overseas students at one private institution (recruiting for a community college) resulted in a temporary obstruction of access for students to the college, according to a TV documentary that was broadcast this month in Canada.
Concerns are raised about the wellbeing of foreign students once they arrive in the country, ethical advising, and economic incentives driving the recruitment of international students in the CBC programme The Fifth Estate series: Sold a Lie. According to a Punjabi community health worker from Brampton, Ontario, who was interviewed for the programme, suicides among Indian students occur frequently.
He mentioned loneliness and mental health difficulties as challenges some students face; the programme claimed that overzealous recruitment is stressing out the entire ecology. Two educators described how some of the adolescents they work with rent a bed for eight hours and take turns sleeping in it.
…the first is that Canadian colleges have been sold primarily as a way to reach Canada and for those who are solely looking for a migration pathway…
The documentary revealed that in May, hundreds of students were informed that their start dates would be postponed due to capacity issues at Alpha College, a private college that recruits and teaches through a relationship with St Lawrence College.
The video claims that by instructing students on how to "pass" English tests without actually learning the language, English instruction businesses or agencies in India are also contributing to an issue with assimilation.
In the TV programme, Ravi Lochan Singh, a seasoned industry professional and the founder of Global Reach in India, expressed concerns about the lack of effective regulation of many of the agents or recruiter partners sending students to Canada.
He told the media that he is worried about two things in particular. "The first is that Canadian colleges have been sold primarily as a way to reach Canada and for those who are solely looking for a migration pathway," he said.
And the second: "Another related concern is that there is no oversight on the type of counselling being offered by the educational institutions," he adds.
Due to the issue, some Canadian stakeholders called for stricter accountability from providers of their recruitment partners as well as increased regulation of private colleges operating in the nation.
Commenting on the matter, a government source said, “Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are in regular contact with the government of India, both in India and through its High Commission and Consulates in Canada, to understand Indian students’ experiences, and work to address recurring issues or refer them to the appropriate authorities.”
Posted in News and tagged News, Canada, TV Documentary, Foreign Students, Wellbeing
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