Students are migrating from Kerala to Foreign Countries in large numbers
The number of students migrating from Kerala to study in other countries is growing. The figure of approximately 35,000 Kerala students who go abroad for higher education each year is alarming! More than 5000 crore rupees have flown out of India. It is unsurprising that the number of students migrating in the coming years could reach a million.
Foreign student migration from Kerala is not a new phenomenon. Students from the country are increasingly migrating to countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia for higher education.
Most Malayalis learned about thousands of Kerala students studying in Eastern European countries during the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. The central government intervened and brought the stranded students home through Operation Ganga. The government also expressed concern regarding students flying to less popular destinations such as China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The government is considering measures to slow or stop the flow of students abroad.
The economic benefits of foreign jobs after studying abroad are what motivate students to cross the sea. A major draw is the financial benefits and material comforts that can be obtained in foreign countries, as opposed to working at home.
As a result, neither the government nor any legal system will be able to stop those who fly in search of new opportunities. The government has begun to consider alternatives in the situation where foreign exchange that should be available to the state is leaking due to student migration to foreign countries. Legislation to regulate recruitment agencies is being considered. With tens of thousands of students flying abroad each year, it is estimated that approximately Rs 5000 crores flow abroad. Annual fees for a student in the United Kingdom are estimated to range between 14 and 28 lakhs. This is in addition to rent, food, and other expenses.
Previously, there was a practice of going abroad for postgraduate and professional courses. It has now gotten to the point of students going directly after Plus Two to pursue further education abroad. Students travel to the United Kingdom mainly to study Hospital Management, Logistics, Hospitality, and Food Technology courses. It is no mystery that such certificate courses are the swiftest method of getting into the UK. The majority of the students aim to enroll in these courses and then apply for care assistant visas in hospitals. Recognizing this, the government is devising countermeasures.
When the common man competes to send his children to study abroad by mortgaging their assets, the number of foreign study loans reaching banks in Kerala has skyrocketed. Surprisingly, banks receive 67 percent of their applications from boys. In this regard, the government has proposed new measures in response to reports that the number of students may exceed one lakh within the next five years.
Many people do not intend to pursue higher education but rather want to simply enlist in any diploma programme and then relocate to another country. It is not uncommon for students who go abroad after high school, to get admission at low-ranking universities and institutions. Some people also express concern that the current migration trend will transform Kerala into an elderly state. Higher Education Social Justice Minister R Bindu responded that student migration is a global phenomenon and that the state government is committed to strengthening the higher education sector.
According to figures presented in Parliament by the central government, more than six lakh students have migrated from the country up until November 2022. According to a study conducted by RedSeer and Oxford International, Kerala accounts for 4% of the total number of students who have migrated from the country.
She also believes that student migration is not caused by problems with Kerala’s universities or a lack of new generation courses offered by the universities. It is stated that the reason for student migration is not a lack of courses, but rather an inadequacy of possible work conditions and infrastructure in Kerala.
However, in a state like Kerala, which is densely populated with academic achievement, the new generation cannot be stopped from seeking better working and living conditions. The reality is that if the younger generation believes that it is better to improve their standard of living by working for a short period of time at a higher salary than to work for a lifetime in a low-paying job, no government can disprove it.
