EDUCONNECT ASIA 30 September 2020

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INDIA: LATEST UPDATES

India is now one of the worst-affected countries with over 6 million COVID-19 cases, second only to the United States in the total number of active cases. As the pandemic rages across the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the ‘Vaccine Web Portal’ and the ‘National Clinical Registry for Covid-19’ to collect key systematic data pertaining to the virus. A number of schools have partially reopened, while trains, metros, domestic flights, markets, and restaurants have been allowed to operate with restrictions.

However, it is unlikely that the Government will impose another lockdown after restrictions had severe implications on the economy and terminated the livelihood of millions. The Government is expected to announce Unlock 5.0 guidelines on easing of COVID related restrictions. The fifth stage of Unlock is expected to go on from 1- 30 October.

Presently India has air bubbles with 14 countries – USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, Maldives, Japan, Iraq, Germany, France, Bhutan, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. Talks are ongoing with several other countries on facilitating two-way international travel. The resumption of regular international operations depends on destination jurisdictions allowing travel from India.

India has the world’s largest education system with over 250 million students enrolled in 1.5 million schools and another 37.4 million students in approximately 50,000 higher educational institutions.  With the COVID-19, schools and universities have been forced to re-imagine engaging and holistic learning and teaching experience that will have an impact on the success and retention number of students. As per a recent survey of the National Statistics Office, only 15% of rural households have access to the internet in comparison to 42% of urban households. The divide is not just limited to connectivity, but also to the use of technology. Only 10% of students are able to use computers in rural households as against 32.4% of students in urban areas.

New Zealand strengthens education ties with India and announces the New Zealand- India Education Week from 5-9 October 2020. The online series brings together researchers, experts, and academia from across New Zealand and Indian education and business landscape.

SUBCONTINENT & SOUTHEAST ASIA UPDATES

Pakistan: The first phase of the reopening of all higher education institutions began from 29 September with classes resuming for Grades 9 to 12 and above. Primary schools (Grade 1-5) will formally reopen across the country from 30 September but under strict Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs). All international travelers coming to Pakistan will be required to carry negative coronavirus test results (no later than 96 hours prior to entry ) starting from 5 October.

Bangladesh: Amid many uncertainties, the Government is once again extending the closure of all educational institutions. An announcement is expected sometime this week as well as an update on the Government’s position on holding Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC). The Government has given its approval to the British Council to administer Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations in October and November. A-Level exams under Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel are scheduled to start on 1 and 5 October respectively. Edexcel’s O Level exams are planned to begin on 2 November while the exams under Cambridge International are scheduled to start on 5 November.

Nepal:  The Government is still mulling over plans to resume educational institutes while some local bodies around the nation have already given permission to begin classes. In the latest announcement, Grade 12 exams will be conducted online. The National Examination Board (NEB) has recommended that online examinations be conducted for 40 marks, practical exams for 20 marks, and the remaining 40 marks converted on the basis of marks obtained in Grade 11. The Government has also extended support for those who do not have internet access through the Student Learning Facilitation Guidelines. Domestic flights and inter-district vehicular movement resumed from 21 September. ber.

Sri Lanka: According to UGC, the much-awaited 2019 A/L exam based ZScore cut-off marks will be released before the second week of October. 362,824 candidates will be sitting for the GCE Advanced Level Examinations from 12 October to 6 November 2020. Tuition classes and seminars related to the GCE exam will be prohibited from midnight on 6 October. The US has extended its support to develop the education system in Sri Lanka, to assist in planning, preparing, and implementing English language courses for students undergoing training at the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority.

Vietnam: The country has gone 28 days with no new locally-transmitted infections so far. A session on Financial Policy in Education was held by the National Education and Human Development Council. The research team of Finance Academy proposed increasing the spending on tertiary education in the context of the 4.0 industry revolution, a solution which will also raise the quality of university graduates. In addition to the resumed commercial passenger operations on six international routes to Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou, Vientiane, Taipei, and Phnom Penh, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air will operate increased weekly flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Philippines: With the highest confirmed cases in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is extending partial restrictions in and around the Manila region for another month until 31 October to curb the spread of COVID-19. An appeal has been made to the country’s top telecommunication firms to improve access, availability and speed of data services, especially with virtual classes for public schools beginning from 5 October. 15 licensure examinations scheduled this year will be moved to next year due to the extended community quarantine in the country. Meanwhile, universities and colleges are choosing not to hold the entrance exams for the 2021-22 school year- such as the UPCAT, ACET, USTET, USTAR 2021.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: TOP STUDY DESTINATIONS

USA

  • The Trump administration proposed changes to student visa rules, which means international students will be limited to a fixed two or four-year stay in the US. This fixed time period will vary for students depending on the country they come from.  These new rules, which could come into effect as early as the spring semester, would also reduce student flexibility in areas that include English language instruction, changes in majors, low grades, and retaking courses.
  • According to preliminary estimates by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre, enrolments at US colleges and universities have fallen nearly 2% for the coming year. Undergraduate losses amid the pandemic have been offset by gains among graduate students from last year and graduate enrolment is now up 3.9 %, making the overall loss 1.8%.

UK

  • The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) declared that UK universities have experienced a 9% increase in the number of undergraduate students from outside the UK and EU starting their studies this autumn, rising to a new record of 44,300.
  • An unpublished British Council report suggests that 50% of Chinese students may drop their UK study plans, 26% at the undergraduate and 27% at the postgraduate level. Some 65% of undergraduates and 59% of postgraduates from India said they were unlikely to cancel or delay their travel plans.

Australia

  • The Government in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) has announced that it is working on a pilot program to fly at least 70 international students to its capital city of Darwin from Singapore next month.
  • A senior Minister of New South Wales has given some hope to international students by intimating they could return to Australia by early 2021, or even by the end of this year. The Minister is conducting numerous conversations with vice-chancellors on setting up a quarantine system and opening borders for international students much earlier than for visitors.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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