Following the disappearance of a Vietnamese student, South Australia tightens entry requirements in six more provinces and cities.

Sunnie Nguyen, a female student, is currently missing mysteriously in Adelaide, South Australia.

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Today (February 11th) marks over a month since Sunnie Nguyen (17 years old, from Quang Binh province) mysteriously disappeared in Australia after having dinner at her host family's home. She is the fifth Vietnamese international student to go missing since December 2023. All of them attended Hamilton High School (Adelaide, South Australia), each disappearing at a different time, and police believe there is no connection between the disappearances.

Following a review of the missing international students' hometowns, the South Australian Department of Education recently decided to temporarily suspend accepting applications from Vietnamese students from Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Binh provinces wishing to enroll in international education programs. This move complies with the Education Services for International Students Act (ESOS 2000) to protect the integrity of the country's visa system, according to a spokesperson for the South Australian Department of Education.

The South Australian Department of Education's decision immediately caused a stir. Many readers wondered whether this decision would be extended to other localities, or whether it would affect the application process for studying in South Australia for Vietnamese students in general.

Responding to Thanh Nien newspaper on February 7th, a spokesperson for the South Australian Department of Education confirmed that, in addition to the three provinces mentioned above, the agency is currently not considering including any other localities in the list of those temporarily suspending enrollment. On February 8th, the South Australian Department of Education further stated that it had sent its 2024 enrollment guidelines to 29 study abroad consulting companies that represent the state in Vietnam.

Ms. Lu Thi Hong Nham, Director of Duc Anh Study Abroad and Translation Consulting Company, confirmed to Thanh Nien Newspaper on February 11th that she had received notification from the South Australian Department of Education. The notification mentioned enrollment in 9 provinces and cities: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong , Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Dong Nai.

This is the 2024 admissions guide sent by the South Australian Department of Education to study abroad consulting companies that represent the state in Vietnam.

Specifically, the South Australian Department of Education will stop accepting applications from students from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces until further notice. The agency will also stop accepting applications from students from Quang Binh province, although this decision will be reviewed in March 2024.

For students from the remaining six provinces and cities, the South Australian Department of Education is requiring them to include a Statement of Purpose in their application for the first time, instead of just meeting a certain GPA requirement like students from other provinces. However, for Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Dong Nai provinces, this decision will be reviewed by the South Australian Department of Education in August 2024.

"Previously, students from these areas were considered high-risk and were required to clearly explain their purpose for applying. However, following the disappearance of several Vietnamese international students, the South Australian Department of Education decided to take a stronger stance by temporarily suspending enrollment or requiring additional essays. This is a preventative measure and will continue until the state conducts a more thorough investigation to find a suitable solution," explained Master Nham.

"The ban on Vietnamese students from the three provinces will not be permanent. On the other hand, with the requirement to submit additional essays, the applications of these students will certainly be scrutinized more carefully by the South Australian Department of Education," Ms. Nham emphasized.

Thousands of students from high schools in Dong Nai attended the Thanh Nien Newspaper's Exam Season Counseling program in January 2024.

In this context, how can Vietnamese international students, especially those from high-risk areas, successfully apply to public high schools in South Australia? According to Ms. Nham, the most important keyword is honesty.

"You don't need any special techniques; just be honest and say 'it's true' when answering questions in your application, especially regarding your family's and your own immigration history, financial capacity, study goals and plans... The South Australian Department of Education will base its decision on the information you provide to determine whether or not to accept you."

"Students need to be fair to themselves and have self-respect. If they meet the requirements, they should apply; otherwise, they should wait for another opportunity. They should not abuse their student visa to come to Australia and then overstay or drop out of school, which would lead to illegal actions and seriously affect the rights of genuine international students," Ms. Nham advised.

Thanh Nien newspaper will continue to update the latest information regarding the case of several Vietnamese students who have gone missing in Australia.

What is an international education program?

At the secondary level, the international education program is a general education program for international students studying at Australian public schools. Public schools wishing to accept international students must meet a series of stringent standards set by South Australia in particular, and the Australian Department of Education in general, regarding educational quality, English language facilities for students needing extra instruction before entering secondary school, and especially services such as guardianship for students under 18, accommodation, transportation, and other care including management.

The South Australian International Education Program, launched in 1989, has welcomed thousands of international students, with Vietnamese students being one of the largest groups. Upon graduating from high school here, students can transfer to college or university within South Australia or in other states or countries.

According to a spokesperson for the South Australian Department of Education, hundreds of students from Vietnam come to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, each year to study. They are cared for by host families and receive dedicated guidance from school staff. In 2023 alone, approximately 430 Vietnamese students attended South Australian public schools through international education programs.

Overview of the case of the missing Vietnamese student studying abroad.

June 2023: Sunnie Nguyen arrived in Australia to study at Hamilton High School. She lived with a host family in South Plympton, a suburb of Adelaide, along with two other international students. Her daily routine consisted of going to school, having dinner, filming videos with her roommates, and occasionally working part-time at a nail salon 15 km from the school.

January 8, 2024: After having dinner with her host family around 7 PM, Sunnie returned to her room to rest. When the host checked her room at 11 PM, she had disappeared along with her backpack, laptop, some clothes, and several important personal documents. The host then tried to contact Sunnie, but her phone was switched off and her social media accounts had been deleted. Thirty minutes later, the host reported the student missing to the police.

January 11th: South Australian police revealed Sunnie was the fifth Vietnamese international student to mysteriously disappear, including one who had been missing for over two months. Police also stated that the five disappearances (one of which has been located) were unrelated. On the same day, Sunnie's close friend moved into her home and reportedly knew nothing about the student's mysterious disappearance.

January 18th: The South Australian Department of Education told Thanh Nien Newspaper that the Vietnamese international students had left their host families without permission, and that Australian education authorities had contacted their families. The students are not in any danger at this time.

January 29: South Australian police believe the missing Vietnamese international students are "actively evading authorities."

February 11th: The South Australian Department of Education and the study abroad consulting company representing the state in Vietnam informed Thanh Nien Newspaper that South Australia is tightening admissions procedures for nine provinces, including Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, and Dong Nai, by temporarily suspending application acceptance or requiring additional essays.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/sau-vu-du-hoc-sinh-mat-tich-nam-uc-siet-dau-vao-them-6-tinh-thanh-khac-185240211095233238.htm