Faridkot, September 12
Four months after the UK made changes in its student visa rules, many Punjabi students in the UK have already been sent back and more may follow for failing to clear the newly introduced English language requirement test.

From April 6 this year, the English language requirement has been changed from B1 to B2 level. This means that those going to the UK for graduation will have to appear for the English language test at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference.

Now, Indian students in the UK are required to clear four English Language Foundation Stage tests if the institutions in which they are enrolled feel that the English level of the students is not up to the mark.

“If a student fails to clear these tests in three attempts, he or she is repatriated,” said Kushdeep Kaur (name changed) of Langeana in Moga district.

Kushdeep took admission in a London college nine months back. She failed the language test twice and the college removed her name from the course. “The initial fee for this test is 1000 pounds and if the student fails in clearing the test in the first attempt, the re-appearing fee is 2500 pounds,” she explained.

Though the students are given the visa after they have cleared the IELTS or TOFEL tests in India, many face problems in comprehending spoken English in the first six weeks of the course and are told to clear the four English Language Foundation Stage tests.

Jaspreet Singh, a student from Faridkot, returned home two weeks back after he failed the test and his name was removed from the college rolls.

Former Union Minister and president of the Lok Bhalai Party Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said the government had failed to make the younger generation aware about the new rules for studying abroad.

“A large number of unscrupulous travel agents are misleading innocent students”, he alleged.