The South Australian government has announced that it will temporarily suspend the admission of students from Central Vietnam, following reports of several missing cases in the region. The decision was made after consultation with the Australian Federal Police and the Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra.
According to a statement released by the South Australian Department of Education, the suspension will affect about 200 students who have applied for study visas to attend schools and universities in South Australia. The department said that the suspension is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of the students and their families, as well as the local community.
The statement also said that the department will work closely with the relevant authorities to monitor the situation and provide support and assistance to the affected students and their education providers. The suspension will be reviewed on a monthly basis and lifted as soon as the situation improves.
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The decision comes after several media outlets reported that at least 10 students from Central Vietnam have gone missing in South Australia in the past two months. The students, who were enrolled in various courses ranging from English language to engineering, were last seen or contacted by their families or friends in late December or early January.
The Australian Federal Police confirmed that they are investigating the cases and have not ruled out any possibilities, including human trafficking, illegal immigration, or voluntary disappearance. The Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra said that they are also working with the Australian authorities to locate the missing students and provide consular assistance to their families.
The embassy urged the Vietnamese community in Australia to report any information or suspicious activities related to the cases to the police or the embassy. The embassy also advised the Vietnamese students in Australia to comply with the local laws and regulations, maintain regular contact with their families and friends, and seek help from the embassy or their education providers if they encounter any difficulties or problems.
The cases of the missing students have raised questions about the safety and security of international students in Australia, especially those from vulnerable backgrounds.
According to the latest data from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, there were 37,379 Vietnamese students enrolled in Australian education institutions as of June 2020, making Vietnam the fourth largest source country of international students in Australia.
Many of these students come from poor rural areas in Central Vietnam, where they face limited opportunities and challenges such as poverty, natural disasters, and social discrimination.
The Australian government has been promoting its education sector as a safe and welcoming destination for international students, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the cases of the missing students have cast a shadow over this image and raised doubts about the effectiveness of the government’s policies and regulations to protect international students from harm.
The government needs to take urgent action to address this issue and ensure that international students can study and live in Australia without fear or danger.