New Delhi: The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has drawn India’s attention towards the difficulties students face in studying abroad and the inadequate education policies of the country.
As per reports, nearly 18,000 Indian students were residing in a war-torn Ukraine.
The government of India, via 63 flights as part of operation Ganga mission, has managed to evacuate 13,300 Indians from war-torn Ukraine.
Nearly 16,000 students have been evacuated from Ukraine so far, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Hundreds of students are still stuck amidst the raging war in Ukraine, the media reported.
This crisis has made us think about why Indians migrate to foreign countries and why parents in India allow their children to study abroad?
The migration of Indians to foreign countries is not a new trend. For the last three decades, the trend of pursuing higher education from abroad persists in India. Back in the 1990s, it was considered a status symbol.
The situation, however, has changed now because international education has become more affordable with loans.
A large number of Indians migrate abroad majorly because of two reasons–higher education fees and a lack of job opportunities in India.
According to the educationalists, medical studies in Ukraine is cheaper as compared to our country and countries like the UK. It costs only Rs 16 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for a medical degree in Ukraine, while it costs around Rs 40 lakh to Rs 70 lakh in India.
The number of Indian students choosing to study abroad has steadily increased over the years.
As per the latest report on ‘Higher Education Abroad’, consulting firm Redseer estimates that close to 20 lakh Indian students would be studying abroad by 2024. The report found that this number is constantly on the rise.