PRESS RELEASE

Set own house in order before deporting International Students

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce must accept responsibility for the shambles in New Zealand International Education sector and set his own house in order before deporting International Students, says Kiwi Indian Community representative Sunny Kaushal.

In addition to 150 international Indian students reportedly about to be deported from New Zealand because their overseas based agents used fake financial documents, another 300 international students face horror of deportation after the closure of one of the institutes in AKL that allegedly falsified test results.

In both the cases majority of the students appeared to had no idea that the agents or schools were falsifying documents to make a fortune, and playing with the careers and lives of thousands of students.

Every time it happens, it is unacceptable a particular community i.e. Indians, gets the blame. There are two sides to every coin, let us not overlook the role of the concerned Government agencies be it Ministry of Education, ENZ, NZQA, IAA or INZ. Their omission and commission are equally responsible and answerable for the situation that they let it happen under their watch and policies. I am afraid why it is the students only to be victimized and being punished for the sins where other participants are equally rather more responsible?

These students have paid hundreds of thousand dollars to NZ economy collectively. Counting just above 450 students altogether would have paid over a million dollars. If the schools and agencies are equally responsible, why this money being not recovered from MBIE and schools, and refunded to the victims unless they are given a second chance for the value they paid? These students should be given an equal right as we Kiwis have under the Consumer Guarantee Act. Immigration Advisory Authority must take action against the fraudulent agents, and the Serious Fraud Office must investigate on the suspicious Education Providers.

It is hard to imagine what lies ahead for these students, the thought of their parents is heartbreaking those have taken huge study loans from the banks against their family homes and properties to see a ray of light for their children’ study a world class education in NZ, they would die a virtual death under the pressure of increased debt and shame.

This is not the way Government should take New Zealand education to the world. Today the industry is sitting at $2.9 billion, our ambitious goal for the sector to achieve an annual economic value of $5 billion by 2025 would become a long distance dream if we do not set our house in order.

Its time ministers Steven Joyce and Michael Woodhouse front up and accept the responsibility, they must stop the deportation of these students or announce compensation against the fees paid. They must act fast to minimise the damage to the reputation of New Zealand International Education industry.

(Sunny Kaushal is one of the senior activists and an active member in Kiwi Indian community. He was the Labour Party Candidate in General Election 2011 and 2014).

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