Roses are an instant attraction, but we should pluck them with caution for they are surrounded by thorns. Same way, the promise of a prosperous life in the world’s major economies in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA, is an irresistible attraction, but there is no shortcut to realise such a life. Here is an incident that happened a decade back, but the marks of its wounds are visible still.
In a notable happening, one that has been developing for over a decade, international students were left with no other option but to take legal action against the UK Home Office as they were accused wrongly of cheating in an English test. Many of the accused students were deported back to their home country. These were some serious allegations wherein the careers of those affected were destroyed forever.
A Decade-Old Panorama Documentary
Everything started with a BBC investigation that was published a decade back, uncovering a student visa fraud. Malpractice was reported to have been found during English language tests which international students are required to take at the time of changing their course or renewing their visa in the UK. The Home Office took no time, believing the report completely and without cross-checking its credibility, and came down hammering on the 35,000 alleged students.
Visas of most of them were revoked, resulting in the students being thrown out of the course. 2,500 were straightaway deported, and more than 7,000 students left the country as they were warned of being arrested and detained, as per the report. The catastrophe didn’t end there, as numerous students are fighting a legal battle still to at least prove their innocence.
Act Responsibly While Appearing for Eligibility Tests
The report pointed out two test centres to have been involved in the incident. The depth of their involvement cannot be ascertained, but, we as students who have our complete life ahead of us should act responsibly and with complete integrity while appearing for these tests. Few tips to take tests responsibly:
- Read the instructions carefully framed by the designated body conducting the particular test
- Make sure you have all the stationery necessary and as asked to appear for the test
- Refrain from talking to someone who may seem suspicious or try to lure you into easy solution traps
- Your focus should only be on completing the task and not on looking around for clues or on things happening around you.
Increased Vigilance Calls for Genuine Preparation
This incident shows that there is no room for error or hiding if you have misrepresented something or cheated somewhere while you are in a different country studying or preparing your file to move there. Hundreds of people have settled successfully in these dream countries, and continue to do so, but you cannot realise this dream by presenting wrong information. There is always a fear of being caught, and the right step is to take genuine advice from the right immigration consultants in Chandigarh to apply for a study visa.
Even though, as per the report, just 21 students were found cheating, the repercussions of this wrongdoing were borne by the 35,000 students who were sitting there and taking the test. As we are talking about genuine preparation, it is our request to all those who will be sitting for such tests in future, to achieve your objectives with genuine means. We are sure you don’t want to be like those 21 students because of whom 35,000 suffered. This is one incident that no one would like to remember, except for the lessons learned from it. As a whole, education export has always been beneficial for the host countries.
The size of international students' contribution to developing a country’s economy is at par, if not more, with the biggest industries of that country. Australia’s annual export income from international students is $34 billion, the UK pockets nearly £42bn, and the Canadian economy receives $23 billion per year from international students. Yet, time and again this clan has been subject to humiliation, looked down upon as a burden, accused of taking away local jobs, and on occasions fought against injustice accrued upon them. Above all, we should not give them any reason from our side, so that all may have to suffer.
Tread Carefully; the Attraction is Irresistible
It may not happen the first time, but avoid taking a step, so that it may not happen ever. You want to settle in your dream country, understood, but opting for shortcut routes can be dangerous. There are several genuine ways to achieve your aim of studying and settling abroad, so start your journey by taking advice from genuine overseas education consultants in Chandigarh.
(Written by ESS Global)
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