The number of rural Indian students choosing to study in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand nearly doubled from pre-pandemic levels after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted worldwide.
Close to a million Indian nationals have been enticed by the promise of a bright future overseas, so much so that the 7% decline in the Indian rupee this year has yet to deter them, Reuters reported.
Chief executive of Universities Australia, Catriona Jackson shared that there are upwards of 76,000 Indian students Down Under. This number is set to rise after Australia and India signed a bilateral trade pact earlier this year.
A new life abroad key to happiness for rural Indians
For decades now, middle-class Indians have sought better prospects overseas, but deteriorating economic conditions have propelled families from rural areas to invest in their childrens’ new lives outside of India.
One such example was 19-year-old Sachin, whose family collected 2 million rupees (approximately USD$25,035) to cover the fees for his English language tuition. He had not done well to get a spot in a top local college and decided that a Canadian student visa was the solution to his problem.
Sachin, as he prefers to be called, was quoted to have said to Reuters: “My dream is to settle abroad as I see no future in India.” His plan is to take the first flight to Canada where he hopes to graduate with a two-year diploma in business management and secure a work visa.
Content Courtesy: https://www.studyinternational.com/news/rural-indians-study-abroad/
No comments