New Delhi, 18 April 2022 – On 16 April, nearly 100 MBBS students from Odisha – who have returned from the war-torn nation of Ukraine – met the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi and submitted a memorandum seeking admission into medical colleges in India. The students stated that they have been facing issues getting admission in India since their return. As they face an uncertain educational future, they requested the minister to provide them admission in MBBS courses in Indian institutions.
In another development, a large number of students who have returned from Ukraine gathered at Jantar Mantar (Delhi) along with their parents on April 17 and demanded the government to provide them with admissions in medical courses in India so that they can complete their education.
Ukraine-India MBBS Education Crisis – Overview
| Total Number of Ukraine-Returned MBBS Students | Approximately 20,000 |
| Cause of Return | Ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine |
| Cause of Incompletion of Studies | Cancellation of the KROK exam by the Ukrainian government, which is mandatory for students to get a medical license |
| Demand by Students | To receive admission in medical institutions in India |
Ukraine-Returned MBBS Students Meet Education Minister
Nearly 100 students from Odisha met the Union Minister during his visit to New Delhi on Saturday. These students submitted a memorandum that requested the minister to solve their admission transfer issues and enable them to get admitted into medical colleges of India.
Although the governments of other European countries have now allowed Indian students to continue their medical education, the students noted that medical fees and costs of living in countries like Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Czech Republic are more than double of that in Ukraine. They also noted that the quality of medical education in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is not good and that they cannot afford the medical fees as they have already spent a lot of money in Ukraine.
Note:
- External Affairs Minister of India – S Jaishankar – stated on April 6 that India is in talks with numerous countries to facilitate the completion of medical education of students who have returned from Ukraine.
- Out of the 22,000 Indian medical students brought back from Ukraine, nearly 500 are from Odisha.
Students Stage Protest in Delhi, Demand Admission
- On Sunday (17 April), students and their parents gathered at Jantar Mantar and demanded that the government should save the careers of the students by offering them admissions in India.
- The protests saw numerous placards that read ‘‘Save Career of Ukraine students”, “Help all Indian MBBS students from Ukraine”, among others.
- The students also requested the government to save their educational future, just like it saved them from the war-torn country and brought them back to India under the Indian government’s Operation Ganga.
Ukraine Returned Student Crisis – FAQs
Why are Ukraine-returned students demanding admission in India?
The students are demanding admission in India as they were unable to complete their MBBS in Ukraine due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Why is the government not offering the students direct admission in Indian medical colleges?
The students are not being offered direct admissions because students in India get admissions into medical colleges on merit and providing direct admission would dilute the entry standards of Indian medical colleges. Plus, students who have returned from Ukraine are familiar with a different system of teaching and curriculum, which is not the same as the Indian medical curriculum.
What actions are being taken to take care of the education of Ukraine-returned students?
As per the latest reports, several European countries like Poland, Romania, and Kazakhstan have now agreed to allow students to pursue medicine in their colleges until the situation stabilizes in Ukraine.
