Students who got enrolled in universities in Germany have been unable to go to the country due to the pandemic, and have appealed to the German Embassy in Dhaka and the Foreign Ministry to ensure visas for them, as many universities are making in-person classes mandatory.
The aggrieved students held a press conference in this regard at Dhaka Reporters' Unity on Monday.
Almost a thousand students have enrolled in German universities last year. Most of them have deposited Tk11 lakh in blocked accounts and many students have submitted their tuition fees, according to a press statement.
Many students have completed three semesters online but now many German universities are starting to take classes physically and making it mandatory for students to be present there. If they cannot go then university administrations might cancel their admissions, the students said.
The education system in Germany is a combination of theory, practical and internship. In many universities theory classes can be conducted online, but the practicals and workshops are conducted on the university campus. Students have to participate in the internship in person as well.
So, the chances of enriching oneself as a student by participating in theory class alone are extremely slim. Without these practical experiences students are unable to sit for the final examinations.
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Also, without access to the university library it is not possible to conduct research-based studies.
Considering all the factors students from Bangladesh are lagging behind in German universities.
The main reason is a backlog of visa applications at the German Embassy in Bangladesh, said speakers at the conference.
If students cannot get their visas timely their education will be hampered.
The students are now demanding that the Bangladesh Government and German Embassy in Bangladesh provide enough visas so that they can go to Germany and continue their studies, read the press release.
They also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Foreign Ministry, according to media reports.
