Foreign students angry at being forced to return to Ukraine for exams

Overseas college students from African and Asian international locations who fled Ukraine when Russia began its unlawful invasion have complained they had been compelled to return to the war-torn nation to take key exams.

On 14 March, a number of the 76,000 international college students learning drugs in Ukraine earlier than the warfare broke out had been again within the nation to take the ultimate licensing Krok 2 examination in an effort to safe their diplomas.

Earlier than travelling to the nation they had been informed by the Kyiv Medical College that they had been “liable for their very own security and life” even supposing forgoing the journey would endanger years of research and associated bills. 

“We needed to interrupt the examination seven occasions due to missile alarms. The room was chilly and there was nearly no gentle. The examination lasted from 9:00 to 16:00 due to totally different interruptions and all of the 50 individuals who took the examination with me failed it,” S., a Donetsk College medical scholar from Yemen who took the check in Kyiv, informed Euronews.

“I’ve to retake it with out realizing what the state of affairs will likely be in a single yr,” S. added, requesting anonymity.

In keeping with the Testing Board of the Ukrainian Ministry of Well being, college students who did not cross their Krok 2 examination can retake it inside three years, though they’ve to attend not less than a yr. This implies they must retake their final yr and due to this fact pay the annual tuition charge.

College students with whom Euronews has gotten involved claimed that their fellows from Zaporizhzhia received the diploma with out doing the ultimate examination. 

Contacted by phone, Zaporizhzhia College did not present an evidence concerning the choice to difficulty diplomas with out an examination and as a substitute referred Euronews to the Ministry of Well being. A spokesperson for the Testing Board of the Ukrainian Ministry of Well being in the meantime informed Euronews that the Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical College has unique duty over the issuance of diplomas to college students.

‘We’re completely drained’

The ordeal comes on high of an typically precarious state of affairs of their present host international locations in comparison with their Ukrainian friends.

“Our place is exclusive to the Ukrainians we fled the warfare with. Though we fled the identical warfare we now have been informed repeatedly when making an attempt to use for scholarships and support that these measures are just for Ukrainians,” Korrine, a medical scholar initially from Zimbabwe who fled the central metropolis of Dnipro for the UK, informed Euronews.

The European Union triggered its Momentary Safety Directive when hundreds of thousands of refugees from Ukraine crossed the border into member states to hunt refuge. This permits Ukrainians to bypass the normal asylum system and safe the suitable to dwell, work, and examine throughout the bloc. 

Non-Ukrainian college students who additionally fled Russian troops and bombings had been nevertheless denied equal help to entry European Universities. This has left a lot of them unable to proceed their research and with no clear path ahead.

The Netherlands grew to become one of the crucial fashionable European locations for these college students.

Michael, a Ghanaian citizen in his 4th yr of drugs at Sumy College, determined to check remotely from the small south-eastern Dutch metropolis of Venray however says it’s not a sustainable answer.

“A variety of issues come into play emotionally, mentally and bodily. We’re completely drained. If I apply for a college right here I’ve to begin once more,” he informed Euronews.

“It’s extremely costly they usually have no subsidy for us, however only for Ukrainians. We [African refugees] are completely out of the image.”

‘Designated certification testing centres’

For a lot of international college students like Michael, the selection to maneuver to Ukraine years earlier than the warfare was primarily because of the low yearly tuition charges: $4,300 (€3,900) per tutorial yr on the Ukrainian Sumy College in comparison with €6,000-€15,000 per yr for a Bachelor’s diploma or between €8,000 and €20,000 per yr for a Grasp’s diploma within the Netherlands.

Utrecht and Groningen universities supply “inclusion” or “visitor college students” programmes for college kids affiliated with Ukrainian universities who examine remotely. This permits them to make use of the services however not the suitable to switch their years of research already accomplished within the nation.

Overseas college students who’ve already accomplished their research, however did not handle to take the Krok 2 examination, see their life in limbo. 

“I needed to develop into a gynaecologist sooner or later as a result of a variety of ladies nonetheless do not know a lot about ladies’s our bodies, particularly throughout being pregnant. So I actually need to see how I will help,” Amara, a medical scholar from Nigeria presently residing in Poland, informed Euronews. 

She accomplished her research 4 months in the past at Sumy College and is now taking on-line courses whereas ready for the following alternative to retake the examination: “Ukrainian authorities can not compensate for the time that we have misplaced doing nothing,” she added. 

After a variety of protests by college students, the Ukrainian Ministry of Well being issued a press launch on March 16 through which it acknowledged {that a} draft decision will likely be introduced to the Cupboard of Ministers to permit college students exterior if Ukraine to “be capable of take the exams at designated certification testing centres.”

“Or in case they’re keen to return to Ukraine, they could take the exams at home greater training establishments,” the official assertion added.

A distant examination choice was not talked about as a possible answer and college students at the moment are nonetheless ready to know when and the place they may be capable of take the examination.