Jammu, Aug 12 (JKNS): An alleged nexus involving certain overseas education consultancies and some media portals has raised concerns over the alleged exploitation of students and families pursuing MBBS and paramedical courses abroad, with sources urging the government to investigate the matter and protect genuine students and doctors.
Sources speaking to news agency JKNS on condition of anonymity alleged that students sometimes remain vulnerable because of mistakes or discrepancies from their past academic records, which they may have carried from earlier stages of their education. They said parents, meanwhile, often make every possible effort for the future of their children and approach consultancies in the hope of securing admissions and resolving academic or documentation-related issues.
According to the sources, certain overseas education consultancies allegedly assist students in dealing with academic record discrepancies to meet admission requirements of foreign institutions. They alleged that such issues are subsequently used to pressure or intimidate students after they complete their medical education and return to India.
The sources further alleged that certain media portals are allegedly used alongside such consultancies in this process, claiming that some portals are asked to publish negative stories against students or doctors and, in some cases, are allegedly paid by consultancies to carry such reports.
“This is not about targeting students or parents. Students make mistakes in their academic journey, while parents do everything possible for the future of their children. The real concern is whether these vulnerabilities are later being exploited by consultancies or their associates to pressure and financially harass them,” a source told JKNS.
The sources alleged that similar instances have surfaced over the past several years, claiming that some doctors who completed MBBS abroad were allegedly approached or pressured years after completing their studies over issues connected with their admission or academic records.
They urged the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the National Medical Commission (NMC), law-enforcement agencies and other competent authorities to conduct a detailed investigation into the functioning of overseas education consultancies and examine the alleged links between consultancies, media portals and individuals involved in such pressure tactics.
The sources also urged authorities to distinguish between genuine students and any persons or entities allegedly involved in wrongdoing, stressing that students and doctors should not be subjected to harassment merely because of issues arising from their past academic records.
They further called for a transparent regulatory mechanism for overseas admission consultancies, including proper verification of academic documents, clear disclosure of admission procedures and safeguards against the alleged misuse of students’ records after admission.
The allegations could not be independently verified by JKNS. Any specific allegation of wrongdoing against an individual, consultancy or media organisation would require verification by the competent authorities. (JKNS)