Australia to probe education sector after India attacks

Australia announced a sweeping review of its international education sector Saturday, as India`s Foreign Minister prepared to meet with students rattled by a series of attacks and study scams.

Sydney: Australia announced a sweeping review of its international education sector Saturday, as India`s Foreign Minister prepared to meet with students rattled by a series of attacks and study scams.
Education Minister Julia Gillard said former Liberal MP and diplomat Bruce Baird would head the review, which was aimed at shoring up the nation`s USD 12.7 billion international education industry.

"Mr Baird will review the Education Services for Overseas Students act and report back to the Government with changes designed to ensure Australia continues to offer world class quality international education in this challenging and changing environment," Gillard said.

Baird said the review would examine perceptions of racism and exploitation plaguing Australia, following a spate of violent attacks against students from India and claims they were being targeted in study scams.

"We`ll be looking at the general welfare of students who come to our shores, as well as issues such as `Have we got dodgy operators?`" Baird said.

"We`ve definitely got the attention of this government.”

"So you know when we bring forward recommendations they won`t just be put in the bottom drawer."

The review comes amid assurances from Canberra that India`s 95,000 students here were safe, with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd both meeting with India’s Foreign Minister SM Krishna this week.

Krishna, who said it was important he visit Australia to "get a clearer sense of what is happening on the ground", was to meet with a student delegation in Melbourne on Saturday evening, the city`s consulate said.

A series of attacks in Sydney and Melbourne boiled over into street protests last month, amid accusations from students that police were not doing enough to halt violence.

Australian authorities have played down any racial aspect to the attacks, saying the jobs that Indian students do to support their education mean they are often in dangerous areas or on public transport late at night.

Krishna said the assaults would not harm the wider relationship between the two countries, despite a swathe of negative publicity in his home country.

"I think the relationship with Australia has matured to the level where the small irritations which have taken place over the past few months will not upset that equilibrium," he said.

Bureau Report

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