CANADA. Canada is letting international students return to their universities even while COVID-19 infection rates continue to rise. The decision taken by the Canadian Government is a relief for many institutions. International students will be allowed to return on 20 October.
However, only once the institutions create a proper plan for quarantining the students, they will be allowed to welcome foreign students. The plan will be carried out after getting approval from the provincial government.
Canada’s plan to revive its educational institutions
Several Canadian universities have been pushing hard for getting permission from the government. The universities are hoping to assist the students who are finding it difficult to connect online from their home countries. They are also aiming to boost their institutional budgets which were hobbled by the loss of international tuition dollars.
Canada’s universities got a warning this summer with data showing a 22 per cent drop in government-issued study permits for international students.
Canada’s main higher education lobby group has been warning that the nation might start losing their competitive advantage if international students were physically prevented from entering the country.
According to the reports, Canada is now seeing around 2,000 new COVID-19 infections in a day. In an open statement, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Theresa Tam, said, “Epidemic growth is continuing to accelerate and spread in Canada. However, necessary measures are being taken to curb the spread of the virus.”
Canada’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency, Bill Blair, said that he is hoping to help people who are suffering from COVID-19 related travel restrictions.
Meanwhile, the new policy has cleared the way for all international students to return.
The decision is especially large at certain Canadian institutions such as the University of Toronto. According to reports, international students account for about 25 per cent of the student population at the University of Toronto.
International student enrollment in Canada
Canada is set to welcome international students in the country. Meanwhile, their counterparts in the US are still facing issues in student enrollment. Most of the international students in the US remained in the country when COVID-19 hit in early 2020. But, new students are still restricted from entering the country.
At the same time, US campuses have been recognised as a leading source of COVID-19 infections in surrounding communities, contributing an estimated 3,200 new COVID-19 cases per day at the beginning of the autumn semester. Meanwhile, international student enrollment in Canada has seen rapid growth in recent years.
Comments are closed.