international student in bad condition in brunei
Bandar Seri Begawan - While the Ministry of Education and several other relevant agencies including the Police have begun separate investigations into an alleged malpractice by a local private educational institution, over 20 foreign students are in a lurch and afraid of a probable deportation for no fault of theirs.
They lamented they came with high hopes and great respect for Brunei in seeking an educated future here.
The reputation of Brunei as a destination for overseas students too is being tarnished with recent allegations against this institution.
The fate of more than 20 students from Nepal and Bangladesh remains in limbo after allegedly being duped to study in a private educational institute in the country.
These students related their difficulties after desperately trying to get help from relevant authorities.
The story began early last year when a `representative' from the private institute went to Nepal and Bangladesh to promote several courses the institute offered.
The representative brought several green glossy brochures offering several subject choices at Bachelors level from Business Administration, Computer Studies, Information Technology and Tourism.
It stated that the institute has 15 years of experience as an educational provider and that it is one of the largest and pioneer education providers in Brunei.
The brochures had images of what was described as the institute's campus and a picture of what was told as `Bandar Seri Begawan' with its `towering' buildings.
The first year tuition fees amounting to US$2,000 plus US$200 as registration fees were paid by students and remitted into the institute's bank account, they claimed.
Forty-three Nepalese students and 32 from Bangladesh came to Brunei around September last year in the hope to gain academic knowledge in this `kingdom of unexpected treasures'.
They were all welcomed at the airport by the institute's staff and brought to their new school in Menglait.
According to one of the Nepalese students, their hopes, however, were dashed days after their arrival in the country after being told that the institute's Bachelors courses have not commenced yet.
Instead, they were told to attend English classes focusing on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) even though majority of them had already sat for the test.
The truth began to surface from then on. The pictures depicting the school's campus in their brochures were in fact of a hotel while the picture of BSB was actually that of another Asian city skyline.
One of the Nepalese students claimed that the institute had agreed previously in a letter to provide them with proper lodgings. This, however, did not materialise and they were only accommodated in a small hostel.
Some of the Bangladeshi and Nepalese students left Brunei by December and returned to their countries while some managed to find places in universities in Singapore.
Some, after badgering the institute's management continually, were able to get more than half of their tuition fees back while some managed to retrieve a portion of it.
Others, meanwhile, stayed on, hoping to get a full refund on their tuition fees and to continue their studies in universities and colleges abroad.
The Bulletin learnt that the students have sent several letters of complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education. They have also lodged a police report a few days ago.
Attempts by the Bulletin to get the institute's side of the story have so far failed. Officials there refused to comment on the matter when calls were made.
A staff member told the Bulletin that they could not make any comment because the matter is the "Ministry of Education's problem".
The Ministry of Education reiterated that the dispute is between the private institution and the students, and that the MoE could not be held responsible for the alleged breach of contract.
They said the incident had come to their attention and the matter is being investigated.
The students had also gone to the Non-Government Schools Section of the MoE seeking further assistance. It is believed that the MoE is trying to find a solution to the matter.
Things have also turned worse for the stranded students as their student visas have now been cancelled by the school, citing that they have not attended `classes'. It is probable that they will be deported back to their home countries.
Indeed their return to their home countries would certainly invite more bad publicity after what the students had endured, and most likely would turn off others against studying in this country, independent observers said. -- Courtesy
They lamented they came with high hopes and great respect for Brunei in seeking an educated future here.
The reputation of Brunei as a destination for overseas students too is being tarnished with recent allegations against this institution.
The fate of more than 20 students from Nepal and Bangladesh remains in limbo after allegedly being duped to study in a private educational institute in the country.
These students related their difficulties after desperately trying to get help from relevant authorities.
The story began early last year when a `representative' from the private institute went to Nepal and Bangladesh to promote several courses the institute offered.
The representative brought several green glossy brochures offering several subject choices at Bachelors level from Business Administration, Computer Studies, Information Technology and Tourism.
It stated that the institute has 15 years of experience as an educational provider and that it is one of the largest and pioneer education providers in Brunei.
The brochures had images of what was described as the institute's campus and a picture of what was told as `Bandar Seri Begawan' with its `towering' buildings.
The first year tuition fees amounting to US$2,000 plus US$200 as registration fees were paid by students and remitted into the institute's bank account, they claimed.
Forty-three Nepalese students and 32 from Bangladesh came to Brunei around September last year in the hope to gain academic knowledge in this `kingdom of unexpected treasures'.
They were all welcomed at the airport by the institute's staff and brought to their new school in Menglait.
According to one of the Nepalese students, their hopes, however, were dashed days after their arrival in the country after being told that the institute's Bachelors courses have not commenced yet.
Instead, they were told to attend English classes focusing on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) even though majority of them had already sat for the test.
The truth began to surface from then on. The pictures depicting the school's campus in their brochures were in fact of a hotel while the picture of BSB was actually that of another Asian city skyline.
One of the Nepalese students claimed that the institute had agreed previously in a letter to provide them with proper lodgings. This, however, did not materialise and they were only accommodated in a small hostel.
Some of the Bangladeshi and Nepalese students left Brunei by December and returned to their countries while some managed to find places in universities in Singapore.
Some, after badgering the institute's management continually, were able to get more than half of their tuition fees back while some managed to retrieve a portion of it.
Others, meanwhile, stayed on, hoping to get a full refund on their tuition fees and to continue their studies in universities and colleges abroad.
The Bulletin learnt that the students have sent several letters of complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education. They have also lodged a police report a few days ago.
Attempts by the Bulletin to get the institute's side of the story have so far failed. Officials there refused to comment on the matter when calls were made.
A staff member told the Bulletin that they could not make any comment because the matter is the "Ministry of Education's problem".
The Ministry of Education reiterated that the dispute is between the private institution and the students, and that the MoE could not be held responsible for the alleged breach of contract.
They said the incident had come to their attention and the matter is being investigated.
The students had also gone to the Non-Government Schools Section of the MoE seeking further assistance. It is believed that the MoE is trying to find a solution to the matter.
Things have also turned worse for the stranded students as their student visas have now been cancelled by the school, citing that they have not attended `classes'. It is probable that they will be deported back to their home countries.
Indeed their return to their home countries would certainly invite more bad publicity after what the students had endured, and most likely would turn off others against studying in this country, independent observers said. -- Courtesy
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