Advisory Issued For Students Coming to Canada

OTTAWA – The Indian high commission here has cautioned Indian students coming to Canada to make thorough checks of the credentials and standing of the institution before making any payments. “Please demand certificate of recognition by Canadian/ provincial government from the institutions and verify that the institution selected is included in the list of designated learning institutions published on the Government of Canada website,” it said.

It comes in the wake of 2,000 Indian students stranded by the abrupt closure of three colleges, M College in Montreal, CED College in Sherbrooke and CCSQ College in Longueil, all run by Rising Phoenix International Inc. The high commission has been flooded with pleas for help by the students.

The high commission said it has been in close contact with Canada’s federal government, the provincial government of Quebec, and members of the Indian Canadian community to provide support to the affected students.

The students meanwhile have been asked by the Quebec government to directly contact the institutions where they are enrolled. In case the students face any difficulty in reimbursement of their fees or transfer of fees, the high commission said, they should file a complaint with the ministry of higher education of Quebec province.

The authorities are providing a grace period to enrolled students who are already present in Canada to seek admission in an alternative institution.