Feature

Overseas education -
beware of hope thieves

Mark T Jones

IN nations such as Bangladesh the insatiable appetite for education continues apace. For many students and their families the great hope of advancement and security is the thought not only of education, but that of education overseas. With such ambitions and all the attendant investment come those intent on deception, fraud and ultimately the destruction of such aspirations.

Whilst Bangladesh has a proud educational tradition some of its institutions are seen as rather restrictive and sadly somewhat dated. Whilst other venerable universities in the region have surged ahead, seats of learning such as the University of Dhaka have begun to lag behind and appear to lack the vision or will to address fundamental weaknesses. Consequently students aspire to study almost anywhere but in their home country, whilst this is regrettable, it is perfectly understandable. Demand for a foreign education has grown inexorably and with the smell of easy money come the charlatans intent of duping the innocent, the foolish and naïve. Naturally, Bangladeshis want a quality product, invariably if they can afford it they look to the UK and USA; Canada and Australia are also possible options, those with a mathematical or science bent appreciate that Russia has much to offer, whilst India and Malaysia each exert a regional pull. With such demand comes the desire for knowledge and the need to acquire visas and it is in these two areas that there is the greatest danger for potential students.

A wealth of evidence has emerged to suggest that unscrupulous agents are charging considerable sums of money for services that are near not existent or not even theirs to give. There have been a number of recent cases of so-called agents placing adverts in seemingly reputable newspapers promising vast numbers of scholarships, in point of fact fees have been greatly inflated and the 'scholarship' is nothing more than a deception to get students to sign up for services. Governments around the world have introduced systems to deal with the bogus and semi bogus colleges (sometimes called visa colleges as they operate scams connected with illegal migrants). In Britain recent changes introduced by the Home Office have lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of colleges. Bona fide education providers have broadly welcomed the changes, but still foreign agents seek ways to exploit people for commercial gain. As all UK education institutions recruiting overseas students have to be registered by the UK Border Agency (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk) some bogus institutions are currently engaged in a desperate effort to extract money whilst they still have the chance. These dubious operations and their overseas agents promise near instant visas or the possibility of massive scholarships in order to get students to sign up and pay over money. Some institutions that have an allocation of 400 student places are issuing thousands of visa letters in the full knowledge that hundreds of students will have their visa applications turned down. These bogus colleges and their agents are resorting to desperate measures for they know that by February 2010 no such letters can be issued until a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) reference number has been issued by the UK Border Agency. More and more adverts are appearing in newspapers promising quick and easy solutions at a price. The price being both a monetary one and an emotional one, the dreams of thousands of young people are being cruelly dashed.

In the case of the UK it is important to remember that even under the new points based system no one can guarantee a visa and even when one is issued the UK Agency reserves the right to question and decline entry at the port of entry should its officials be dissatisfied by the answers given the person seeking entry to the United Kingdom.

So what can students and parents do to protect themselves from such hope stealers?
* Beware the word 'Scholarship' in point of fact genuine scholarships are quite rare. (The British Council can furnish potential students with details of the Chevening Scholarships www.chevening.com) If you want a quality product, invariably you will be expected to pay a reasonable price.
* Endeavour to find out how many places and education institution has and how that equates to the number of places being offered.
* Do your homework with regard to regional agents. There are some very good agents, but it is important to ensure that Embassies and High Commissions recognize them before paying over sums of money and initiating the visa process.
* Ask around for reputable agents with a record of professionalism and success. Personal recommendation is often best.
* If you are the victim of deception or fraud please alert the authorities so that action can be taken.
* Try to find out all that you can about an overseas institution, e-mail them, visit their website, contact accrediting bodies that they claim association with.
* If a newspaper unwittingly publishes a fraudulent advertisement, be sure to make the newspaper aware of this fact.
* Keep a record or names, e-mail addresses, contact details etc of people that you deal with so that if something goes seriously wrong you have the details to hand over to the relevant authorities.
* Finally, remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is.

An overseas education is not the answer for everybody, but if it is for you the very least you deserve is to get the product and service you have paid for.

(Director of External Affairs The London College of Management Studies)
(Mark T Jones will be highlighting this important during a number of engagements throughout Bangladesh when he visits the country from 24th September 11th October 2009)

In memory of Tumpa on her 1st Birth Anniversary

Md. Rafiqul Islam

Recalling some memories is sweet and sad at the same time. We remember people for their good deeds and other activities in their lifetime do bring the saddest sense of loss that they are no more among us. As such, while recalling my student Fowzia today, with a broken heart, who left us for eternity on the 17th of October 2008. She died young with the dreams intact in her serene soul.

Tumpa's extracurricular qualities and activities were simply outstanding. She was the founder member of PU Drama Club as well as the Debate Club at PU. She, on top of all, was the key-person to undertake such endeavours. Whatever ideas she came across from her teachers or the fellow classmates she just jumped on to the implementations of them --- there was an inborn leadership in her. And she did everything with her trademark serene smile in the face! She was used to dribbling with any kind of challenges that came her way.

Tumpa was a cultural activist at campus in the fullest sense of the word. She used to do acting, debating and conducting some national and international events---whatsoever came on her way---she performed/accomplished them in her unique way.

One fondly recalls Tumpa's acting performances on stage as the Prince of Aragon from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, and as Isabella's encounter with her brother (which she did prior to her departure to Bangkok for treatment “she could not wait for death”) in the prison scene in Measure for Measure how remarkable her performance was! Her outstanding stage performance in the Chittagong Theater Institute, way back in 2006.

Today, as I am recalling her, in my turbulent heart, it appears very difficult to devise my words in a fitting way, as she had a cluster of wisdom and vision that won everybody's heart. She was very dear to all the students, let alone her classmates. She recurrently pleaded the varsity authority to exempt poor students from tuition fees.

(Senior Lecturer in English, Department of English Language and Literature Premier University, Chittagong)