Help and support Nepali students in Australia on current COVID-19 crisis

A collective representative of five big umbrella organizations of education consultancies working for Nepali student community in Nepal and Australia (ECAN, IERIN, FECON, NAAER and AECA) issued joint press statement urging Australian education providers, government agencies and associated stake holders to help and support Nepali students in Australia at this grimmest hour of terrifying Corona Virus spread.

“Australian government has announced some rescue package for the local business and citizens. However, there are many international students who are in need of some sort of urgent support, waiting to hear from the government to stake holders to help them live and study in Australia in coming months. There are lots of job cuts and definitely the international students are also hit by this job crisis,” it said in the statement.

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The press statement further stated that they also suggest the Australian education providers and government agencies to defer the students of new intake (February/March 2020) into the next intake or up to one-year time frame amid the grimmest hour of terrifying Corona Virus spread. Also, to refund 100% of Nepali student’s tuition fees to the deferred students of 2020 intakes if they would like to comeback home and continue their studies in their home town.

 Here are other suggestions that they suggested to Australian education providers and government agencies:

1. Provide scholarship opportunities to the international students who like to commence their studies in July 2020.


2. Reduce tuition fees by at least 25% or more with immediate effect for all the online training or classes that is currently happening at Australian Universities until the session is deferred.


3. Avail a Sept intake 2020 session as an alternative to the students if the COVID 19 resolution delays and students not able to commence in July 2020 intake.


4. Facilitate the student visa extensions for 9 months as default, for current international students who couldn’t complete the course due to COVID-19, or if completed couldn’t move out of country due to border seals or lockdown.


5. Provide the financial support (subsidy) to the international students for up to 6 months or until the situation is under control to cover their partial living expenses.


6. Get the health facilities as good as local citizens with zero financial burdens.


7. Facilitate the emergency travel arrangement to the students if they are in dire need to come back home.