Where are the students?
Canada Immigration News: Canada is considered one of the best countries in the world for studying abroad. However, this reputation is now under scrutiny, as data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that students who came here to study have ‘disappeared’.
In March-April 2024, approximately 50,000 students did not report to their colleges, which is 6.9% of the total foreign students. Reporting means that the students did not attend classes and the colleges do not know where they are. The most concerning aspect is that about 20,000 Indian students are also included in this, which is 5.4% of the total Indian students.
These students have also not returned to college. Indian officials are investigating whether some colleges in Canada are linked to illegal migration networks. There are allegations that some students have used study permits to go to the United States under the pretext of studying.
Since the IRCC data was released, questions have been raised about the flaws in Canada’s student visa system.
What are the reasons for students going missing?
There can be several reasons for foreign students not attending classes in Canada. The first could be false promises made by unrecognized agents to secure jobs and permanent residency for students.
The second reason is that there is no monitoring of students’ activities after they arrive in Canada. There are also no strict rules regarding tuition fees. Most students coming to Canada for studies are from middle-class families, whose parents have taken education loans to send them here. As a result, they tend to focus more on jobs than on studies after arriving in Canada. They believe they can repay the entire loan by working during their studies.
Sometimes, students are working at two different places during the day. There are also some students for whom obtaining permanent residency is a priority, and in such cases, they do not comply with the conditions of the study permit.
